Iranian legislators seek probe into prison beatings

Demand follows alleged assault of several political prisoners held at Tehran’s Evin penitentiary

Illustrative: A prison in Iran. (CC BY-SA Ehsan Iran/Wikipedia)
Illustrative: A prison in Iran. (CC BY-SA Ehsan Iran/Wikipedia)

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s official news agency says seven lawmakers have demanded a probe into alleged beatings of several political prisoners held at Tehran’s Evin prison.

IRNA reported on Tuesday that the families of the inmates met with the lawmakers on Monday, seeking clarification on what happened to their kin.

Foreign-based Farsi language media have reported that the prisoners were beaten during a snap inspection by prison authorities last Thursday.

Prison officials have denied any beatings, saying several prisoners cut their hands on glass as they were breaking windows to protest the inspection.

Iran convicted hundreds in the wake of protests following the 2009 re-election of former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which the opposition called fraudulent. Many were pardoned and released over the past years.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.

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