In this undated frame grab taken from video shared with The Associated Press by a self-identified hacker group called "The Justice of Ali," guards drag an emaciated prisoner, at Evin prison in Tehran, Iran. The alleged hackers said the release of the footage was an effort to show the grim conditions at the prison, known for holding political prisoners. (THE JUSTICE OF ALI VIA AP)
DUBAI – The head of Iran's prisons apologized on Tuesday for "bitter events" in Tehran's Evin prison after videos leaked by hackers showed beatings of prisoners, a rare admission of abuse by authorities.
A hacking group calling itself Edalat-e Ali (The Justice of Ali) issued on social media the videos that appear to be from the prison's surveillance cameras and show guards beating prisoners and dragging a detainee on the floor.
Regarding the pictures from Evin prison, I accept responsibility for such unacceptable behaviour and pledge to try to prevent any repeat of these bitter events and to deal seriously with the wrongdoers.
Mohammad Mehdi Hajmohammadi, head of Iran's Evin prison
"Regarding the pictures from Evin prison, I accept responsibility for such unacceptable behaviour and pledge to try to prevent any repeat of these bitter events and to deal seriously with the wrongdoers," Mohammad Mehdi Hajmohammadi, head of Iran's prisons, said in a tweet reported by state media.
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"I apologize to God Almighty, our dear leader (Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei), the nation and honorable prison guards, whose efforts will not be ignored due to these mistakes," Hajmohammadi said.
It was a rare admission of human rights abuses in Iran, which often has dismissed criticism of its human rights record as baseless.
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In July, Iran faced cyberattacks on the website of its transport ministry and the state railway company.