According to Iranian human rights activists, around 1,500 prisoners at Ghezel Hesar Prison in the city of Karaj have joined a collective hunger strike. The protest, now entering its second week, began in response to the continuing and increasing number of executions in Iran. The scale and persistence of this strike mark a significant moment in the history of resistance within Iran’s prisons.
Over the past three years, Iran has witnessed an unprecedented surge in executions, a trend that has drawn widespread international condemnation. Roughly 1,000 executions were carried out last year, and over 1,200 more have already been recorded so far this year. Ghezel Hesar has now become a new focal point for the regime’s abuse of capital punishment. Iran continues to hold the highest execution rate per capita in the world.
Executions and inhumane punishments continue
In the days leading up to the hunger strike, at least 16 prisoners were transferred to solitary confinement, typically a sign that their executions are imminent. Despite the strike, activists reported that at least eight prisoners were executed in Ghezel Hesar during the first two days, with five more hanged the following day.
These executions form part of a broader pattern of disproportionate punishments. A shocking case occurred on September 30 at Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, where Mohsen Ashiri, accused of theft, had four fingers of his right hand amputated—a punishment many say violates the Islamic Republic’s own laws. Ashiri’s sentence was carried out unexpectedly despite having returned the stolen property and received forgiveness from the complainant.
Reprisals and the targeting of families
For the Iranian regime, the Ghezel Hesar hunger strike represents not only a protest against executions but also a direct challenge to the judiciary. Reports from Iran Human Rights Monitor and other sources indicate that authorities have threatened to accelerate executions as collective punishment.
The regime’s desire for retaliation has led to other repressive measures, including the targeting of prisoners’ families. Authorities have reportedly suspended in-person visits and are attempting to cut off phone communications from the prison, effectively isolating the striking prisoners. As a result, many families have no information about their loved ones’ physical condition after days of deliberate starvation.
Despite these isolation tactics, families continue to gather outside the prison gates to protest and show solidarity. This strategy of arresting or harassing families is well-known, often used alongside torture to extract false confessions from prisoners, which are frequently broadcast on state media.
The need for international attention
Given the scale and severity of the situation, it is imperative that the international community pays immediate attention to developments at Ghezel Hesar Prison. Human rights organizations, foreign governments, and international media must amplify the voices of the striking prisoners and their families. The Iranian regime has long relied on secrecy and impunity to conceal its crimes. Greater global scrutiny could help protect the lives of prisoners at risk and hold the regime accountable for its actions.
International pressure has proven effective in the past. Coordinated efforts by international institutions could help prevent further reprisals against the strikers and their families and support broader efforts to reform Iran’s judicial system and end torture, amputations, and other inhumane punishments.
A remarkable turning point and call to action
The Ghezel Hesar hunger strike is not an isolated event; it is a testament to the growing resistance against state violence and a collective demand for dignity and justice. The participation of 1,500 prisoners is unprecedented, signaling a shift in patterns of prison resistance and the diminishing effectiveness of the regime’s traditional methods of repression.
The courage of these prisoners and the solidarity of their families send a clear message: the demand for justice and human dignity cannot be silenced.
Join Verein Welle in our campaign to support the striking prisoners and their families. Amplify their voices, share this story, and support organizations dedicated to halting executions in Iran.
English 
German 
French