Women political prisoners in Iran plan a hunger strike

Forty-seven female political prisoners in Iran's notorious Evin Prison plan a day-long hunger strike to coincide with President Masoud Pezeshkian's debut address at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, sources familiar with the situation told Iran International.

The prisoners are protesting the escalating number of executions in Iran and calling for the release of all political and ideological detainees, added the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Dissidents and rights groups have criticized the Iranian government’s ongoing crackdown on political dissent and human rights violations which persist under the new Pezeshkian administration.

Iranian activists are due to protest outside UN headquarters and are calling on UNGA attendees to walk out during Pezeshkian’s speech.

Pezeshkian’s UNGA address in New York comes amid a sharp increase in state repression back home around the second anniversary of the Woman Life Freedom uprising sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in September 2022.

While Pezeshkian has criticized the methods of the morality police during his campaign, the enforcement of strict hijab laws continues under his administration as officials insist hijab patrols will persist.

Last week, the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran highlighted persistent human rights violations, particularly targeting women.