Unit 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison; 1,500 Prisoners Launch Hunger Strike to Protest Executions and Broken Promises by Officials

Monday, July 13, 2026; Concurrent with the transfer of 6 death-row prisoners to solitary confinement cells for execution, approximately 1,500 prisoners in Unit 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj launched a dry hunger strike. The strike is in protest of officials breaking their promise to revoke death sentences for prisoners convicted of "drug-related offenses," as well as the transfer of their cellmates to solitary confinement for execution.

In part of a video received by Kurdpa, hundreds of prisoners from Unit 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison are seen in the ward's hall holding placards with the slogan "No to Execution" and the date "July 13, 2026," announcing the commencement of the dry hunger strike by 1,500 prisoners.

A segment of the statement read by the prisoners in this video states:

"As eyewitnesses to the presence of our families on the ground, bending under the backbreaking weight of economic pressure and poverty, we did not frown, and we stand by the soil of our homeland, Iran, until our last breath. However, although during the previous strike we ended our protest based on the promise of you officials to abolish executions except for armed offenses, unfortunately today we witnessed that on July 13, 2026, you transferred 6 of our cellmates to solitary suites for the execution of their death sentences. Therefore, from this date until justice is realized and you officials adhere to your covenant regarding the abolition of executions, we will continue our strike. Dear compatriots, people of Iran, the lives of 1,500 drug-related death-row prisoners in Unit 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison are in mortal danger. Please be our voice, the voice of prisoners in chains in Iran. No to execution."

Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj is one of the largest and most notorious penitentiaries in Iran and the entire Middle East region. Due to its demographic composition, staggering statistics, and the specific conditions governing it, this prison holds a distinct position in the ruling system's cycle of suppression and human rights violations:

1. The Largest Prison in Iran and the Middle East

In terms of size and population, Ghezel Hesar is considered the largest prison in Iran and one of the largest in the Middle East. This complex was constructed in the 1970s with an official capacity of a few thousand people; however, over recent decades, it has consistently held a population several times its capacity. According to reports from human rights organizations, the prison population has fluctuated between 15,000 and 25,000 inmates during various periods. This catastrophic density has practically transformed Ghezel Hesar into a densely packed "prison-city"—a situation that is often beyond the management capacity of prison officials.

2. Inhumane Conditions and Violations of Fundamental Rights

Human rights documents and reports describe the living and health conditions in Ghezel Hesar as a clear manifestation of "systematic and gradual torture." Due to severe overcrowding, the phenomenon of inmates sleeping on the floor ("Kaf-Khab") and in corridors has become common practice, with thousands of prisoners resting without beds on the floors of wards, hallways, in front of restrooms, and in open-air yards.

Furthermore, constant cutoffs of drinking water, a dilapidated sewage network, the outbreak of contagious diseases such as tuberculosis, hepatitis, HIV, and skin diseases, and the lack of basic sanitary facilities like hand soap and hot showers have rendered the prisoners' living conditions acutely critical.

Reports also indicate the existence of an extensive drug distribution network and organized violence inside the prison; a significant portion of drug trafficking, clashes, and fatal stabbings occurs with the oversight or calculated indifference of certain guards as a method of maintaining security control over inmates, making bloody intra-ward conflicts a daily occurrence.

In addition, transferring sick prisoners to medical facilities outside the prison is in many cases deliberately delayed or opposed by officials—an issue that, according to reports, leads to the silent death of dozens of prisoners annually.

3. The Highest Statistics of Executions

Ghezel Hesar Prison is recognized as the capital of execution in Iran, holding the highest number of carried-out death sentences in the country. In the past, the bulk of executions were related to drug cases, but in recent years, death sentences related to murder (retribution-in-kind/Qisas), armed robbery, and those of certain political and ideological prisoners have also been implemented in this prison.

One of the most well-known protocols of this prison is the group transfer of death-row inmates to solitary confinement cells known as "quarantine." This transfer usually takes place on Sundays and Mondays prior to the dawn executions on Wednesdays, consistently causing severe psychological distress and tension across the prison wards.

4. Transfer of Prisoners Following the Closure of Rajai Shahr

Following the closure and evacuation of Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj, the majority of its security and judicial burden was transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison. This measure, besides increasing overcrowding, led to the transfer of a large number of political and ideological prisoners, street protesters, and detainees to this facility.

According to published reports, authorities utilize the unsafe environment of Ghezel Hesar as a tool for pressure, psychological torture, and additional punishment by transferring political prisoners to general wards and holding them alongside violent offenders.

From the perspective of international human rights organizations, Ghezel Hesar Prison is not a rehabilitation center, but rather one of the most prominent symbols of human rights violations in Iran and a "machine for generating violence and death." Its conditions stand in stark contrast to international standards for the treatment of prisoners, including the "Mandela Rules."