IRAN reported prison riots in the southern city of Shiraz yesterday, the latest in a string of upheavals in the country’s jail network.

The government has temporarily released 100,000 inmates, two thirds of the prison population, on the grounds that it cannot control the spread of Covid-19 in its jails, but about 50,000 people remain behind bars, including violent criminals and many political prisoners.

On Friday authorities said that 70 inmates had escaped from Saqqez prison in Iranian Kurdistan.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani rejected criticism of the government’s response to Covid-19, saying: “Health is a principle for us, but the production and security of society is also a principle.” Iran’s battle against coronavirus has been hampered by crippling unilateral US sanctions imposed when US President Donald Trump tore up an international agreement on Iranian nuclear development.

Iran reported 117 more deaths from Covid-19 yesterday, bringing its total to 2,757.