Report from the fourth day of a hunger strike by 1,500 prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison; threat by Tehran’s deputy prosecutor
17-October-2025
Category: executions، Prisoners
17 October 2025
News group: Executions – Prisoners –
Breathing in Confinement – Death-row prisoners held in Unit 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison have entered the fourth day of a hunger strike against executions, amid threats from officials including the Deputy Prosecutor of Tehran.
According to Breathing in Confinement, 1,500 prisoners in Unit 2 have refused food for the fourth consecutive day; some prisoners in Wards 3 and 4 have sewn their lips shut. They have announced they will continue their strike until their death sentences are commuted to prison terms.
Hossein-zadeh, the Deputy Prosecutor of Tehran and the official in charge of carrying out executions, warned prisoner representatives that if the strike ends, executions would be halted for three months—but after that, two execution rounds per month, 30 people in each round, would be carried out. He also threatened the representatives with punishment for “leading the strike,” saying he would “harass” them.
At the same time, reports indicate that NOPO forces, in addition to the prison guard units, have been deployed inside the prison. Although no raid on the halls has occurred so far, there is a risk of a sudden assault.
Breathing in Confinement has received videos from prisoners calling on the public and international bodies to intervene.
As part of ongoing efforts to break the strike, late Thursday night the prison’s deputy director, Faraj-Nejad, reportedly went door-to-door through Unit 2, threatening prisoners and demanding an end to the strike. He told them: “If you don’t break the strike, we will execute 100 of you at once.”
One prisoner appealed to the media and the public to continue supporting the strikers, warning: “If you stop supporting us, they will massacre us here.” According to reports received by Breathing in Confinement, around 28 prisoners have been transferred to the infirmary due to deteriorating health; however, last night a duty officer allegedly beat prisoners and told them they were coming to the infirmary “without reason.”
The Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran reiterates its call on the international community and UN member states to take decisive action to stop executions in Iran.