A number of prisoners killed and wounded in a revolt in Qezel Hesar

HRA News Agency – Following a revolt in Karaj, Qezel Hesar prison, when families of the prisoners who were sentenced to death aggregated outside the prison, a number of prisoners were wounded and killed in fight with security forces.

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), on 17th August, after a group of prisoners who were sentenced to death were transferred for execution, prisoners from unit 1 and unit 2 wards 2 and 3 of Qezel Hesar prison revolt and fought with prison guards and security forces. Security unit in the prison used firearms to control violence and prisoners’ protest, which led to the killing and wounding a number of prisoners.

At the time of writing this report there is no exact information available about the number of dead and injured prisoners. However, it has been reported that prison is in a state of emergency, but the prison is under security unit’s control. The mentioned wards are mainly whereabouts of prisoners who are sentenced to death
In addition, HRANA reports, coincided with protests inside the prison, the families of some prisoners on death row who had gathered in front of the prison, also protested. This problem caused dozens of police cars and fire engines attend and attempt to disperse them. Police force tried to disperse protesters families using water spray and nightsticks there is still no information about possible arrests in this regard.

Further reports will be issued in this regard by HRANA.

It needs to be mentioned that prisoners protest, especially prisoners who are sentenced to death, and prisoners’ revolt has a history and at least dozens of killed prisoners in earlier protests had been reported.