Iran Prison Hunger Strike: Executions Surge as Prisoners Sew Lips 2026

Iran's largest jail sees a mass hunger strike as prisoners sew lips shut to protest a surge in executions. At least 1,500 death row inmates at Ghezel Hesar prison near Tehran have joined the protest, which began two weeks ago after six men convicted on drug charges were moved to solitary confinement ahead of possible execution. The campaign against the death penalty, which started in January 2024, has now spread across Iranian prisons amid a sharp rise in executions linked to drug offences and anti-government protests.

Prisoners Sew Lips Shut in Desperate Act

In videos shared by rights groups in exile, prisoners are seen sitting in hallways holding placards reading “No to Executions” and chanting “Be our voice.” One graphic video shows a prisoner addressing the camera before another inmate uses a needle and thread to stitch his lips closed. “Six days into the hunger strike, no prison official has responded,” he says. Another clip shows a prisoner calling for urgent medical help as conditions deteriorate, claiming guards refuse to open doors to the infirmary.

The Escalating Execution Crisis

The hunger strike is the latest act of defiance in a prisoner-led campaign that has intensified amid Iran’s war with the US. Executions have spiked dramatically this year, with families and rights groups raising alarms over the worsening human rights situation. A source in Tehran noted that a prisoner was executed on 6 April, the very day the US and Iran agreed to a ceasefire, suggesting that “whenever the shadow of war lifts slightly, the regime becomes more savage.”

Data: Executions in Iran on the Rise

Key Takeaways from the Hunger Strike

• At least 1,500 prisoners are on hunger strike at Iran’s largest jail.
• Prisoners have sewn lips shut to demand an end to executions.
• The strike began after six drug offenders were moved to solitary confinement.
• Executions have surged amid US-Iran tensions, with a prisoner executed on ceasefire day.
• Rights groups call for international pressure to halt the death penalty.

Global Response and What’s Next

International human rights organizations have condemned the surge in executions and urged immediate action. The US, which recently called off a bombing campaign, has threatened to restart strikes unless negotiations progress, but critics argue that military pressure may exacerbate the regime’s brutality. The prisoners’ protest highlights the urgent need for diplomatic engagement and human rights advocacy.

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