Prisoners at Iran's largest jail, Ghezel Hesar near Tehran, have sewn their lips shut and launched a mass hunger strike involving at least 1,500 death row inmates amid a surge in executions.
Key facts
- At least 1,500 death row prisoners at Ghezel Hesar prison near Tehran have joined a hunger strike.
- Some prisoners have sewn their lips shut in protest.
- The strike began two weeks ago, according to Iranian rights groups.
- It followed the transfer of six men convicted on drug-related charges to solitary confinement ahead of possible execution.
- The protest comes amid a surge in executions over drug offences and charges linked to anti-government protests.
Prisoners at Iran’s largest jail have sewn their lips shut as hundreds of inmates joined a mass hunger strike amid a surge in executions over drug offences and charges linked to anti-government protests, according to the Guardian.
The hunger strike involves at least 1,500 death row prisoners at Ghezel Hesar prison near Tehran, the report said. The protest began two weeks ago after six men convicted on drug-related charges were transferred to solitary confinement before their possible execution, according to Iranian rights groups cited by the Guardian.
The move to sew lips shut is a stark form of protest intended to draw attention to the conditions faced by those on death row and the pace of executions being carried out in Iran.
The six men whose transfer triggered the strike had been convicted on drug-related charges, according to the account provided by Iranian rights groups. Their move to solitary confinement was seen as a precursor to possible execution.
The Guardian reported that the surge in executions relates both to drug offences and to charges linked to anti-government protests, placing the hunger strike within a broader context of rising capital punishment in the country.
Why it matters
The mass protest highlights concerns from rights groups about a rising number of executions in Iran, including for drug offences and charges tied to anti-government demonstrations. The dramatic form the protest has taken underscores the desperation of prisoners facing possible execution and draws international attention to Iran's use of the death penalty.
Frequently asked questions
How many prisoners are involved in the hunger strike?
According to the Guardian, at least 1,500 death row prisoners at Ghezel Hesar prison near Tehran have joined the mass hunger strike.
What triggered the hunger strike?
The strike began two weeks ago after six men convicted on drug-related charges were transferred to solitary confinement before their possible execution, according to Iranian rights groups.
Why are executions rising in Iran according to the report?
The Guardian reported a surge in executions over drug offences and charges linked to anti-government protests.