Ghezel Hesar Prison Hunger Strike Continues in Iran

Prisoners at Iran’s Ghezel Hesar (Qezel‑Hesar) prison began a collective hunger strike on 13 July to protest the planned execution of six death‑row inmates convicted of drug‑related offences. The six men were transferred to solitary confinement ahead of the executions, prompting the inmates to refuse food, hold placards reading “No to Execution,” and demand a halt to all executions at the facility.

The strike has persisted for several days, with authorities employing signal‑jamming devices to block communications and reportedly refusing to move striking prisoners to the infirmary despite deteriorating health. The protest is part of the broader “No to Execution” campaign that started in 2022 and has spread to dozens of prisons across Iran. Human‑rights groups note that Iran recorded a historic 2,159 executions in 2025, the highest in recent decades, and that similar large‑scale hunger strikes occurred previously, such as the six‑day strike in October 2025.

The ongoing strike highlights continuing domestic and international concerns over Iran’s use of capital punishment, especially for drug offenses, and the treatment of prisoners who protest their sentences.