Inmates of Unit 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison refused to receive prison food in protest of the transfer of six death-row prisoners to solitary confinement cells. This protest takes place while last year the prisoners of this unit also went on a hunger strike to protest the wave of executions, and according to sources, prison authorities had promised to review and break some of the sentences; however, concerns have now escalated over the resumption of the execution of sentences.
Iran human rights Society, Monday, July 13, 2026 – Reports received from Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj indicate that on Monday, July 13, inmates in Unit 2 of this prison refused their food rations and went on a protest strike in response to the transfer of six death-row prisoners to solitary confinement cells. This action was taken as families and inmates warn of a fresh wave of
executions, calling on public opinion and international organizations to prevent the implementation of these sentences.
Information Box | Latest Status of Ghezel Hesar Prison and Death-Row Inmates
| Title | Information |
| Prison Name | Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj |
| Date of Event | Monday, July 13, 2026 |
| Reason for Protest | Transfer of 6 death-row inmates to solitary confinement |
| Type of Protest | Hunger strike and refusing to receive food rations |
| Number of Transferred Inmates | 6 individuals |
| Identified Identity | Hamid Nazaryani, from Nurabad, Lorestan |
| Case Charges | Drug-related offenses |
| Last Year’s Action | Hunger strike lasting over a week by Unit 2 inmates in protest of the wave of executions |
| Promise of Officials | Reviewing cases and a promise to break some sentences (based on reports published at the time) |
| Current Concern | Resumption of executions and the transfer of condemned prisoners to solitary confinement |
| Demand of Families | Halting execution sentences and receiving support from the public, media, and international organizations |
| Demand of Human Rights Activists | Immediate action by the international community to prevent executions and support death-row prisoners |
Hunger Strike by Unit 2 Inmates of Ghezel Hesar Prison
According to received information, prisoners held in Unit 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison refused to receive prison food on Monday, July 13, 2026, in protest of the transfer of six death-row prisoners to solitary confinement cells.
Informed sources state that this protest was organized after prison authorities escorted six death-row prisoners out of the ward and transferred them to solitary confinement cells; an action that is usually considered the final stage before carrying out an execution. According to these sources, the prisoners’ protest aims to draw attention to the situation of those on death row and to prevent the execution of these sentences.
Transfer of Six Condemned Inmates to Solitary Confinement
According to published reports, six prisoners who had previously been sentenced to death in cases related to drug offenses were transferred to solitary confinement today. The identity of one of these prisoners has been announced as Hamid Nazaryani, from Nurabad in Lorestan Province. The transfer of these condemned prisoners to solitary confinement has intensified the concerns of families and other inmates regarding the imminent execution of their sentences.
Family Appeals to Prevent the Executions
In a video published from inside Ghezel Hesar Prison, Amir Nazaryani, the brother of Hamid Nazaryani, states that he too could be transferred to solitary confinement for execution at any moment. In this message, he calls on the public, media, and human rights defense organizations to follow up on this issue and support them in preventing the execution of these sentences and saving the lives of the death-row prisoners. This request is made amid ongoing concerns over the rise of executions in recent months.
History of Hunger Strikes at Ghezel Hesar Prison
Monday’s protest is not the first collective action by Unit 2 inmates of Ghezel Hesar Prison against the implementation of death sentences.
Last year, the prisoners of this unit went on a hunger strike for more than a week to protest a broad wave of executions. That strike, which began on October 13, continued despite pressure and threats from prison authorities, becoming one of the most widespread collective prison protests in recent years.
According to reports published at the time, the prisoners insisted on continuing their strike despite heavy pressure, demanding a halt to executions. Informed sources state that during those protests, prison officials and certain authorities promised to review the cases and make it possible to break or halt some sentences. However, the re-transfer of condemned inmates to solitary confinement and the resumption of executions have heightened concerns that these promises were never kept.
Concerns Over a New Wave of Executions
Human rights activists believe that the simultaneous transfer of several death-row prisoners to solitary confinement could signal the start of a new round of executions in Ghezel Hesar Prison. According to them, such actions—besides causing deep anxiety among the prisoners’ families—impose a heavy psychological burden on other inmates. Informed sources say that the inmates of Unit 2 have tried to use their hunger strike to draw public attention to the situation of those on death row and to stop these sentences from being carried out.
The Necessity of Supporting Death-Row Prisoners
Human rights activists emphasize that death-row prisoners, regardless of their charges, have the right to a fair trial, access to a lawyer, the opportunity to use legal remedies, and the preservation of their human dignity.
They call on the international community, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, international bodies, and all human rights defense organizations to react immediately to the situation of the prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison and to use all their legal and diplomatic capacities to prevent these executions.
Additionally, the public, media, and civil activists are urged to prevent the fate of these prisoners from being forgotten through widespread information-sharing.
The hunger strike of Unit 2 inmates of Ghezel Hesar Prison in protest of the transfer of six death-row prisoners has once again highlighted concerns over the rise of executions. This protest takes place while the inmates of this very unit had also gone on a widespread hunger strike last year to demand a halt to executions and, according to reports, had received promises to review and break some sentences. Now, with the re-transfer of condemned inmates to solitary confinement, concerns over a new wave of executions have escalated, and families and human rights activists are demanding immediate action from the international community to support these prisoners and prevent the sentences from being carried out.
See also the below articles:
- Evin Prison: Healthcare Crisis and Rising Pressure on the Women’s Ward
- Habib Adabi: Arrest, Torture, and Ongoing Prosecution in Gonabad
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