Prisoners at Ghezel Hesar prison, Iran’s largest jail near Tehran, are taking part in a hunger strike that includes some sewing their lips shut, according to Iranian human rights groups. The strike involves death row prisoners and at least 1,500 inmates, with hundreds joining after the start of the protest about two weeks ago.
The hunger strike begins after six men convicted on drug-related charges are placed in solitary confinement ahead of possible execution. Rights groups say the inmates’ action reflects broader anger over an apparent rise in executions related to drug offences and charges connected to anti-government protests.
While the reports describe the prisoners’ actions—sewing lips shut and mass refusal of food—they provide limited detail on prison authorities’ response. Both outlets frame the protest as a coordinated action by prisoners at Ghezel Hesar, emphasizing the scale of participation and the context of executions. The accounts do not specify the prisoners’ current legal status beyond their death-row placement, nor do they list particular dates for any executions.
