A group of women political prisoners held in Iran’s Evin Prison released a message of solidarity with the prisoners on hunger strike in Ghezel Hesar Prison in the city of Karaj.
The message expressed hope that the protests against the death penalty would gain public attention, noting that the government tries to conceal fundamental problems such as corruption by using executions to divert public attention toward disturbing criminal acts and to legitimize the death penalty.
The message continued: “More than a thousand prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison are standing against death sentences and the government’s repressive policies. This marks a turning point in the history of the Iranian people’s struggle against oppression and executions. The women prisoners in Evin Prison will stand by all prisoners and their families until the death penalty is abolished.”
More than 1,500 prisoners sentenced to death and held in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, Iran, have been on hunger strike since October 15 to protest executions. Over the past few days, 17 prisoners have been executed.