Iran Increases Repression Amid Surge in Executions
Iran’s crackdown on political dissent is escalating sharply, with reports indicating nearly 50 executions in the past three months and around 6,000 arbitrary detentions. Hadi Ghaemi, the Director of the Center for Human Rights in Iran, notes that the regime’s unchecked actions make daily life nearly impossible for those who oppose it.
Currently, more than 1,000 inmates at Ghezel Hesar Prison, located near Tehran, are on a mass hunger strike to protest against the rising number of executions. Reports reveal that some prisoners have even resorted to sewing their lips shut as a form of protest before officials address their grievances.
The hunger strike, which began on July 13, was triggered by the transfer of six inmates to solitary confinement ahead of potential executions. Many of these inmates were convicted of drug-related crimes, highlighting the international concern over Iran’s heavy reliance on capital punishment.
Eyewitness accounts describe prisoners chanting “No to Execution” during their protest. One inmate reportedly said on video that he planned to sew his lips shut after receiving no response from prison officials six days into the hunger strike.
The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an exiled opposition group, stated that the health of the striking prisoners is deteriorating rapidly. They emphasize the need for urgent medical assistance and demand that human rights organizations and the international community act to stop the executions.
This protest follows another significant demonstration at Ghezel Hesar Prison just months earlier. In October 2025, over 1,500 inmates initiated a six-day hunger strike, which ended after prison authorities promised to review execution cases. However, human rights activists contend that these promises were never kept.
The U.S. State Department recognized Ghezel Hesar Prison for severe human rights violations, including the brutal treatment of political prisoners. The facility was sanctioned in 2024 for engaging in such practices.
According to Amnesty International, Iran executed at least 2,159 people in 2025, contributing to a global total of at least 2,707 executions recorded across 17 countries — the highest figure since 1981. These numbers highlight the alarming trends in state executions, especially in Iran.
