Sewing Lips Shut: Unprecedented Protest Wave in Iranian Prisons Amid Surge in Executions

Prisoners in dozens of Iranian prisons have launched an unprecedented protest against the wave of executions, including sewing lips shut and hunger strikes. At Qezel Hesar prison, inmates sewed their lips, and according to human rights organizations, at least 1,500 death row inmates have been on hunger strike for about two weeks. The protest is part of the 'Tuesdays Against Executions' campaign that began in January 2024.

In recent days, prisoners in dozens of Iranian prisons have been conducting an unprecedented protest against the wave of executions in the country. At Qezel Hesar prison, one of Iran's largest, several inmates sewed their lips shut with needle and thread, while according to human rights organizations, at least 1,500 death row inmates have been on hunger strike for about two weeks. Simultaneously, prisoners in 59 prisons across Iran began hunger strikes today (Tuesday) as part of the 131st week of the 'Tuesdays Against Executions' campaign, which calls for an end to executions and the abolition of the death penalty in the country. According to Iranian human rights organizations, the protest at Qezel Hesar prison began after six inmates convicted of drug offenses were transferred to solitary confinement—a step generally considered preparation for execution. Protest organizers claimed that since the beginning of the Iranian year on March 21, 2026, at least 303 people have been executed. The Iran Human Rights organization presented a higher figure, claiming that at least 424 people have been executed since the start of the year. According to a report in The Guardian, the number of executions in Iran has risen this year, especially during the war between Iran and the United States. The protest is part of the 'Tuesdays Against Executions' campaign, which began in January 2024 and has gradually spread to dozens of detention facilities. Most information on the scope of the strikes, the condition of prisoners, and the number of executions is based on reports from human rights organizations and a publication in The Guardian, and has not received official confirmation from Iranian authorities.