News Wrap: Iran protests continue; deadly Tehran prison fire put out

Geoff Bennett:

It is good to be with you. Our top story tonight, the protest movements sweeping Iran. State media says peace has been restored to a prison in Tehran known for holding political prisoners after it was set ablaze last night. But the regime's claims of calm are at odds with a nationwide anti-government protests that have raged on for weeks. Ali Rogin has this report.

Ali Rogin:

Overnight, Tehran's Evin Prison was engulfed in flames. By the wee hours of the morning, state TV was broadcasting the cleanup within. Officials insisted the fire had nothing to do with the protests happening across the country.

Mohsen Mansouri, Tehran Governor (through translator):

This fire was caused by a fight between some prisoners and a sewing workshop.

Ali Rogin:

But protesters gathered on the roads outside. They chanted death to Khamenei, referring to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. As the head of the Islamic Republic, Khamenei has for weeks been among the protesters targets, along with other regimes symbols like Qasem Soleimani, a military commander who was killed by the United States and is celebrated as a martyr.

The protests were sparked and are still being led by women. These Tehran college students chant women life freedom, one of the uprisings most popular slogans. They stand in the formation of the Farsi word for blood.

In the central city of Isfahan, women shout death to the dictator. High school girls in the Northwest chant Iran has become a detention center. The protests ignited after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. She died in police custody after being arrested by Iran's morality police, who said she was wearing her hijab improperly.

In solidarity women around the world began shutting their headscarves and cutting their hair, protesting the regime's restrictions on women. Khamenei has dismissed the riots as the work of foreign enemies.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran (through translator): Some of these persons are elements of the enemy, and if they are not, they are in direction of the enemy. They go to the streets with the same goals as the enemy.

Ali Rogin:

But he is arresting and killing his own people. Thousands have been detained and more than 200 killed, among them 23 children, according to Amnesty International. Two of those young women have joined Mahsa Amini as symbols of the revolution, Nika Shakrami and Sarina Esmailzadeh, both 16 are believed to have been killed by security forces during the protests.

Esmailzadeh was a YouTuber who frequently posted about daily life in Iran.

Speaking in California Friday, President Joe Biden said he was stunned by Amini's death and the response.

Joe Biden, U.S. President:

It's awakened something I don't think will be quiet in a long, long time.

Ali Rogin:

On Sunday, Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi said America was behind the protests.

Ibrahim Raisi, Iranian President (through translator):

It is our belief that America is behind the majority of destruction, terror, riots in chaos in the region and the world. It affirms our belief and the world's beliefs that Americans are angered and upset by every innovation, every happiness or good that happens to Iran.

Ali Rogin:

But the women of Iran would say it is the regime propelling them to the streets to fight for their rights. For PBS News Weekend, I'm Ali Rogin.

Geoff Bennett:

And today's other headlines, Chinese President Xi Zhang ping is poised to remain as his country's leader for an unprecedented third term after removing term limits four years ago. Xi first assumed the role in 2013. Addressing the week long session of the country's Communist Party Congress.

Xi emphasized military growth and warned against outside interference in places like Taiwan. He also announced that the nation of 1.4 billion people would stick to its zero COVID policy. China has the world's second largest economy and military behind the US.

In Ukraine shelling damage to the mayor's office in separatist controlled Donetsk. Pro-Russian officials blamed Ukraine. No casualties have been reported. Elsewhere, Ukrainian officials said Russian rockets struck a city near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant injuring six people and in Russia officials launched a criminal investigation after two gunmen killed 11 military recruits yesterday at a training ground near the Ukrainian border. Russia is calling it an act of terror.

And police in Stockton, California believe they have taken a suspected serial killer off the streets. When the man was arrested early Saturday morning, police say he was armed and ready to kill again. A man dressed in black can be seen on video at several of the murder scenes across Stockton.

Police alleged that 43 year old Wesley Brownlee killed six men since 2021. One female victim survived her injuries. Brownlee is set to be arraigned on Tuesday.

And still to come on "PBS News Weekend," Neil deGrasse Tyson explains what NASA's asteroid mission means for the future. And a new book examines the effects of climate change on the wine and spirits industries.