Iran Human Rights Crisis: Hunger Strikes, Executions, and Global Protests

Prisoners at Ghezel Hesar, Iran’s largest jail, have entered the 15th day of a hunger strike and sewn their lips shut to protest a surge in executions and the imposition of death sentences, according to reports from The Guardian and IranWire. The protest occurs amid a broader campaign against capital punishment involving 59 prisons across the country.

Hunger Strike and Lip-Sewing at Ghezel Hesar Prison

According to IranWire, some inmates have taken the extreme measure of sewing their lips shut to ensure their protest is visible to prison authorities and the public.

The prisoners are demanding an immediate halt to executions and a review of death sentences. This action coincides with a wider movement known as the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign, which Iran Human Rights Monitor (Iran HRM) reports is currently active in 59 prisons throughout Iran. The campaign has now reached its 130th week of continuous operation.

International Protests and Commemorations

The unrest within the prison system is mirrored by demonstrations abroad. The Brussels Times reports that approximately 50 people protested outside the Iranian embassy in Belgium to denounce countrywide repressions and the treatment of political prisoners.

In Paris, the organization Iran Freedom held an exhibition to mark the anniversary of the 1988 massacre. The event focused on honoring recent martyrs and recalling the thousands of political prisoners executed during the 1988 purge, linking historical state violence to the current conditions in Iranian penitentiaries.

Trends in Iranian Capital Punishment

The Guardian reports that the hunger strike is a reaction to “soaring” execution rates. While official government figures are often delayed or withheld, human rights monitors indicate a sharp increase in the use of the death penalty for both criminal offenses and political dissent.

The “No to Execution Tuesdays” initiative, as documented by Iran HRM, serves as a coordinated effort across the prison network to draw attention to the frequency of hangings and the lack of fair trial standards. The coordination across 59 different facilities suggests a systemic level of discontent among the incarcerated population regarding the judiciary’s current trajectory.