Inmates at Ghezel Hesar prison near Tehran, Iran’s largest detention facility, have initiated a widespread hunger strike involving at least 1,500 death row prisoners as part of their opposition to rising execution rates. The protest began two weeks prior after six men convicted on drug-related charges were moved to solitary confinement in anticipation of possible execution, according to accounts from Iranian rights organizations.
In videos distributed by exiled rights groups, prisoners are depicted holding signs stating “No to Executions” and appealing for international attention. Some detainees have resorted to extreme measures, with certain individuals stitching their lips closed using needles and thread to demonstrate the severity of their situation. Prisoners have also called for medical assistance, claiming guards prevent access to the prison infirmary for those experiencing health deterioration.
The current action represents the latest chapter in an ongoing prisoner-led movement against capital punishment that commenced in January 2024 and has expanded throughout Iran’s correctional system. According to the Oslo-based Iran Human Rights organization, a minimum of 424 executions have occurred this year, with the majority involving drug-related convictions. Rights advocates note that most individuals facing execution for narcotics offences are low-level operatives rather than major traffickers, frequently recruited due to economic desperation.
Experts and human rights lawyers have raised concerns about the fairness of trials conducted by revolutionary courts, which handle national security and drug-related matters. These courts have been documented to lack independence and impose severe sentences following proceedings that fall short of international standards. Detainees often lack adequate legal representation or meaningful opportunity to present defenses, with some confessions obtained through coercive interrogation methods.
A comparable protest occurred in October 2025, when over 1,500 prisoners participated in a six-day hunger strike that prompted official acknowledgment. However, human rights monitors report that systemic conditions have not substantively improved since that demonstration. The current wave of executions has extended to political prisoners and individuals arrested following nationwide demonstrations, with many sentences based on coerced admissions.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI