Over 1,000 Inmates in Iran's Ghezel Hesar Prison Engage in Hunger Strike

More than 1,000 death-row inmates at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, Iran, have been on a hunger strike for three weeks to protest executions, with some inmates reportedly sewing their lips shut. The hunger strike began on July 13, following the transfer of six inmates to solitary confinement ahead of potential executions. Human rights organizations, including the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), indicate that the inmates were convicted of drug-related offenses. Reports state that the prisoners have been chanting "No to Execution" and have taken extreme measures to draw attention to their plight. The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) reported on July 27 that the inmates' physical conditions are deteriorating due to the hunger strike, and they have received no response from prison officials. This protest follows a similar demonstration in October 2025, when over 1,500 inmates staged a hunger strike that ended after officials promised to review execution cases. However, human rights activists claim those promises were not fulfilled. Ghezel Hesar Prison was sanctioned by the U.S. State Department in 2024 for severe human rights violations. According to Amnesty International, Iran executed at least 2,159 people in 2025, contributing to a global total of at least 2,707 executions recorded by the organization.