A cohort of female political prisoners, supporting the opposition People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), went on a hunger strike on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, within the confines of the women’s ward in Evin Prison. Their objective was to denounce the escalating frequency of executions in Iran. The hunger strikes against the death penalty, aimed at condemning the imposition of the death penalty, was first launched on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, by death-row inmates at Qezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, following the executions of detained protesters Mohammad Qobadlou and Farhad Salimi.
Hunger Strikes against the Death Penalty
This was the third round of hunger strikes against the death penalty initiated by political prisoners across several prisons, including Evin, Qezel Hesar, Mashhad, Karaj, Khorramabad, and Saqqez. The campaign vehemently denounces the executions and demands an immediate cessation of such actions.
On Tuesday, January 30, several death-row prisoners in Qezel Hesar made an announcement: “In order to amplify our voices, we will commence a hunger strike every Tuesday. We have chosen Tuesdays because this day often marks the final moments for our fellow inmates, who are usually transferred to solitary confinement a few days prior.”
The ongoing resistance of political prisoners against the clerical regime’s killing machine persists amidst a concerning escalation in the issuance of death sentences. Recent weeks have seen a surge in charges leveled against political prisoners, including accusations of “moharebeh” or waging war on God and “Bagh-ye” or armed insurgency against the clerical regime.
So far, four female political prisoners in the women’s ward of Evin Prison have been charged with “Bagh-ye.” They include Marzieh Farsi, Forough Taghipour, Nassim Gholami Fard, and Varisha Moradi.
In late January, the 26th Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran convened a trial to address the charges against Marzieh Farsi and Forough Taghipour. However, the two political prisoners declined to attend the court, citing their refusal to acknowledge its legitimacy.