Around 1,500 death row prisoners continue their mass hunger strike in protest against the regime’s accelerating executions, while authorities remain silent and tighten communication restrictions inside the prison.
The mass hunger strike by approximately 1,500 death row prisoners at Qezel Hesar Prison in Karaj entered its eleventh day on Thursday, as reports indicate the physical condition of many participants has become increasingly critical. The protest comes as Iran’s regime continues to accelerate its execution campaign in an apparent attempt to spread fear and suppress growing public dissent amid mounting political instability.
A newly released video from inside Unit 2 of Qezel Hesar shows groups of prisoners standing peacefully in a prison corridor while holding handwritten signs reading “No to Executions.” The footage underscores the prisoners’ determination to continue their protest despite the rapidly deteriorating conditions.
Prisoners protest the regime’s escalating executions
The prisoners have stated that their hunger strike is a direct response to the regime’s continued implementation of death sentences and what they describe as the expanding wave of executions across the country.
They are demanding an immediate halt to executions, respect for the fundamental right to life, and meaningful engagement by prison authorities regarding their demands.
Throughout the eleven-day protest, the prisoners have emphasized that their actions remain entirely peaceful. Rather than resorting to violence, they have sought to draw public attention to the regime’s escalating use of executions as a tool of repression.
The hunger strike has become one of the largest collective prison protests in recent years and reflects growing resistance even within the country’s prison system.
Health conditions rapidly deteriorate
According to informed sources, many of the striking prisoners are now suffering from severe physical complications.
Reports describe widespread weakness, dangerously low blood pressure, significant weight loss, dizziness, and declining physical strength. Some prisoners are reportedly struggling to perform even basic daily activities.
Medical experts have long warned that prolonged hunger strikes without continuous medical supervision can lead to irreversible health complications or death. Despite these risks, there have been no reports of systematic medical treatment, hospital transfers, or meaningful measures by prison authorities to protect the prisoners’ health.
The lack of medical intervention has intensified concerns among families and human rights advocates as the strike enters its second week.
Authorities remain silent despite growing humanitarian concerns
Despite mounting concern over the prisoners’ condition, prison officials and the judiciary have taken no visible steps to address the situation.
There has been no indication that authorities have opened negotiations with the prisoners or responded positively to their demands. Instead, officials have maintained silence while the health of many participants continues to deteriorate.
This continued inaction raises serious questions about the legal and humanitarian responsibilities of the Prison Organization and the judiciary to safeguard the lives of those in their custody.
As the strike continues, fears are growing that the absence of urgent intervention could lead to irreversible consequences.
Communication restrictions tightened inside Qezel Hesar
At the same time, reports indicate that prison authorities have installed new communication-jamming equipment inside Qezel Hesar Prison.
According to informed sources, the new equipment has severely limited prisoners’ ability to send photographs and videos from inside the facility, while telephone communications with the outside have also become increasingly difficult.
Residents living near the prison have likewise reported noticeable internet disruptions following the installation of the equipment, fueling concerns that the regime is attempting to prevent independent reporting about conditions inside the prison.
In recent weeks, images and videos smuggled out of Qezel Hesar played an important role in informing the public and international human rights organizations about the prisoners’ protest. The newly imposed restrictions now make such communication significantly more difficult.
Executions continue to accelerate amid fears of growing unrest
The prisoners’ protest unfolds against the backdrop of an accelerating execution campaign that has become one of the regime’s principal instruments of intimidation. Human rights organizations have repeatedly warned that the sharp increase in executions reflects the regime’s deepening fear of expanding social unrest and organized resistance rather than any commitment to justice.
As public anger continues to grow over worsening economic conditions, political repression, and widespread dissatisfaction, the regime has increasingly relied on executions to instill fear and discourage further protests. The ongoing hunger strike at Qezel Hesar stands as a powerful act of defiance against this policy, with prisoners risking their own lives to protest the systematic use of capital punishment as a means of preserving a regime facing an increasingly profound crisis of legitimacy.
