Promise of death-row reviews ends hunger strike

The 1,800 prisoners of Qezel Hessar Prison who had gone on hunger strike against the death penalty ended their strike after authorities made a series of promises

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HRANA reports that on Wednesday morning, judicial and prison officials visited prisoners in ward 2 of Qezel Hessar and assured convicts on death row that their files would be submitted for review.

Three thousand prisoners in Qezel Hessar are on death row for drug-related convictions. In Iran, drug trafficking is punishable by death.

The transfer of 11 prisoners to solitary last Monday in preparation for hanging triggered the hunger strike in the prison.

The report indicates that prisoners have warned they are prepared to resume their hunger strike should the authorities fail to live up to their promises.

zamaneh