TEHRAN — Several Iranian lawmakers on Tuesday demanded a probe into alleged beatings of political prisoners held at Tehran’s Evin prison, the official IRNA news agency reported.
Families of the inmates met with the lawmakers Sunday, seeking clarification on what happened, according to the report.
The meetings came after family members of a group of political prisoners in ward 350 of the notorious facility gathered in front of the parliament to voice their concerns that some inmates were injured during a prison inspection last Thursday, the semiofficial
ISNA news agency reported.
ISNA reported that family members learned of the situation during phone calls with loved ones held at the facility. They told the news agency that some prisoners were sent to solitary confinement after the incident.
Moderate lawmaker Ali Motahari promised to follow the case, saying ‘‘the families asked us for help and we do so as much as we can,’’ according to the ISNA report.
Motahari is one of the lawmakers who called on the justice minister to investigate the case Tuesday.
Details of what happened during the prison inspection are in dispute.
Kaleme.com, an opposition Farsi website based outside Iran, has reported that the prisoners were beaten during a clash following a snap inspection by prison authorities.
Prison officials have denied any beatings took place, saying there was no clash during the monthly inspection. They say that a majority of family members have already met with the inmates, and that the rest will be allowed to meet soon.