15 Days of Resistance at Qazelhesar: Death Row Inmates’ Strike Against Endless Execution Cycle

In one of the longest collective prison protests in recent years, inmates in Ward Two of Qazelhesar Prison in Karaj have for the fifteenth consecutive day refused food and staged a sit-in protest, demanding a halt to death sentence executions. This protest continues amid growing concerns over the fate of dozens of death row inmates and transparency in Iran’s judicial proceedings.

The protest by inmates in Ward Two of Qazelhesar Prison is not merely a professional or prison-specific grievance; rather, it has once again brought the broader issue of capital punishment in Iran to the forefront of attention.

According to reports released by human rights sources, inmates in this ward have been on hunger strike and conducting sit-in protests since late July in response to the transfer of several death row inmates to solitary cells and fears of imminent executions. They are demanding a halt to executions until cases are reviewed again and related laws are reformed.

The continuation of this protest for over two weeks demonstrates the depth of concern among inmates who believe some death sentences have been issued without sufficient review of case circumstances and without the possibility of reconsideration.

Qazelhesar Prison in Karaj has been one of the most significant centers for executing death sentences in Iran in recent years, particularly in cases related to drug offenses. Human rights organizations have repeatedly warned about the high number of executions in this area and the need to reform the Islamic Republic’s judicial approach.

Critics say many defendants in drug-related cases come from disadvantaged sections of society, and in some cases, their role, degree of participation, and personal circumstances warrant more thorough investigation. However, carrying out a death sentence leaves no room for remedying any potential error.

In recent days, the transfer of numerous inmates from Ward Two of Qazelhesar to other sections has heightened concerns among families and human rights activists. According to released reports, following these transfers, a significant number of death row inmates are expected to remain in this ward.

The absence of official explanation for the reason behind these transfers has prompted some families and human rights activists to suggest the possibility of accelerated executions.

The current protest emerged at a time when inmates in this same ward had previously staged hunger strikes in protest of executions. Following those earlier protests, judicial authorities had promised that some executions would be halted and cases would be reviewed again. However, from the perspective of protesting inmates, the continued execution of sentences demonstrates that these promises have failed to restore lost trust.

The main issue now is not merely halting a few specific executions, but rather a larger question has been raised about Iran’s overall policy on capital punishment: Is the purpose of punishment to serve justice or to instill fear and act as a social deterrent?

International human rights bodies have repeatedly warned in recent years about the increase in death sentence executions in Iran. These organizations have called for adherence to fair trial standards, defendants’ access to independent counsel, and prevention of irreversible sentences in cases where procedural ambiguities exist.

The hunger strike of Qazelhesar inmates has now become a symbol of protest against Iran’s execution policy; a protest that began behind prison walls but raises questions that extend far beyond a single cell block: questions about the value of human life, the right to fair trial, and the responsibility of governments in the use of punitive power.