Breathing in Confinement

23 June 2026

News Category: Prisoners

Breathing in Confinement: A prisoner held in Qezel Hesar Prison died by suicide following severe psychological and physical pressures.

According to reporters of Breathing in Confinement, the news outlet of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, on Monday, 22 June, a prisoner detained in Qezel Hesar Prison took his own life after enduring severe psychological distress. The prisoner’s identity has been confirmed by Breathing in Confinement as Mostafa Nezami.

According to the report, Mostafa Nezami had previously been arrested on a charge of “murder” and sentenced to death. He was transferred from Rajaei Shahr Prison to Qezel Hesar Prison in 2023 and, at the time of his death, was awaiting the implementation of his execution sentence.

Reports received indicate that severe psychological pressure, poor detention conditions, and inadequate access to specialised mental healthcare services in prison were among the factors that contributed to the incident.

Under Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the right to life is a fundamental human right, and states are obligated to protect and safeguard it. In addition, the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Mandela Rules) require authorities to ensure prisoners’ physical and mental health and to provide them with appropriate access to healthcare services.