A mass hunger strike in Iran's largest prison, with prisoners sewing their lips together

N1 HrvatskaIndependentProgressive4 hr. ago

More than 1,500 death-sentenced prisoners at Ghezel Hesar Prison, Iran’s largest jail, have launched a mass hunger strike in protest against the sharp increase in executions. Some inmates have sewn their lips shut as a form of protest. The strike began two weeks ago after six men convicted of drug-related offenses were moved to solitary confinement ahead of potential executions, according to Iranian human rights organizations. Videos shared by exile groups show prisoners sitting in hallways holding signs reading 'No to executions' and chanting 'Be our voice.' One inmate told cameras he had sewn his lips shut because no prison staff responded to their protests over six days. Another video showed another prisoner using a needle and thread to sew his lips while calling for urgent medical assistance due to worsening health conditions. The hunger strike is part of a broader campaign against the death penalty that began in January 2024 and has spread across Iran amid a surge in executions. This year, the number of executions has risen significantly during the war with the United States, prompting warnings from families of the condemned and human rights organizations about a growing human

Bias read (Progressive): The article highlights a mass hunger strike by death-row prisoners in Iran, emphasizing their extreme measures such as self-mutilation to protest the rising number of executions. It frames this as a significant act of resistance against the death penalty and calls attention to the humanitarian and人权