Karaj, west of the capital, was the scene of a major riot on Wednesday, after prison guards attempted to reshuffle prisoners in one of the wards, according to an informed source. Iran Focus
Rajai-Shahr Prison, also known by the name Gohardasht Prison, houses primarily political prisoners and gained notoriety over the years as an execution centre for many political dissidents.
The riot initially broke out in the evening after prison guards attacked prisoners who protested being forcefully moved from their cells in Ward 5 of the prison to another ward.
Prisoners attacked the guards and took control of the ward for some three hours, locking exits so that special anti-riot troops could not be brought in. A number of guards were taken hostage during that time, according to the source.
A number of prisoners headed to the office of Gerami, a Revolutionary Guards officer who is in charge of prison security, and beat him.
Prison guards fired tear gas inside the ward to control the riot and a number of prisoners set their clothes alight to fight off the sting.
After destroying the locked entrance, guards took control of the ward but have not yet transferred any of the Ward 5 prisoners for fear of reprisals, the source added.
Food rations to the ward have been suspended and prisoners have since complained that the water supply has been cut off.
