Political prisoners protest poor prison food in Orumiyeh

Political prisoners in the “Ershad” security ward of Orumiyeh Central Prison have refused prison food in protest at its poor quality, returning meal containers during distribution.

At midday on 14 April, all 49 prisoners held in the ward declined to accept lunch, citing its unpleasant smell and low quality, and returned the food as a collective act of protest, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has reported.

Poor food quality has remained a persistent issue in Iranian prisons over the past year, prompting repeated protests by detainees.

Since the outbreak of the recent war, the quality and quantity of prison meals have sharply declined. Dinner portions are often described as effectively inedible and are often thrown away.

In response, prisoners have increasingly relied on prison shops to meet basic nutritional needs. However, prices in these shops continue to rise, placing further pressure on detainees.

Many prisoners face extreme financial hardship, and their families often lack the means to support them. In such conditions, some detainees are unable to purchase additional food and are left to endure hunger.