In a desperate act of defiance against the Iranian regime’s escalating executions, over a thousand death-row inmates at the notorious Ghezel Hesar Prison have entered their third week of a mass hunger strike, with some going to extreme lengths by sewing their lips shut to protest their impending deaths. The demonstration, which began on July 13 after six inmates were moved to solitary confinement ahead of potential executions, highlights the dire human rights situation within the U.S.-sanctioned facility, where prisoners convicted primarily of drug-related offenses are facing capital punishment at an alarming rate. Reports indicate that striking inmates have been chanting “No to Execution” and, in a chilling display of their desperation, have resorted to using needles and thread to seal their mouths, with one prisoner filmed before undergoing the procedure due to the lack of response from prison officials. The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) has reported the prisoners’ deteriorating physical condition and the judiciary’s complete disregard for their plight, noting that no medical attention has been provided. This follows a similar protest in October 2025 that ended with promises of a temporary halt to executions and case reviews, promises that human rights activists claim were never kept. Ghezel Hesar Prison, previously sanctioned by the U.S. State Department for gross human rights violations, including severe beatings of hunger-striking prisoners, now stands as a grim testament to Iran’s surge in executions, which reached at least 2,159 in 2025 alone, contributing to the highest global execution figure recorded by Amnesty International since 1981.
Adapted from: Latest World News on Fox News
