Cartoon by Reza Aghili

Women Inmates Start Hunger Strike on Mahsa Amini Death Anniversary

IranWire: Dozens of women political prisoners in Tehran's notorious Evin prison have launched a hunger strike on the second anniversary of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement.

The strike marks two years since the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, which sparked nationwide protests against the Islamic Republic's policies in 2022.

Initiated by 34 inmates in the women's ward of Evin prison, the hunger strike aims to "join the protesting people of Iran against the government's repressive policies."

Among the striking prisoners are prominent activists and dissidents, including Narges Mohammadi, Verisheh Moradi, Mahbobeh Rezaei, and Parivash Muslimi.

This act of defiance comes in the wake of escalating tensions between the prisoners and prison authorities.

On September 8, five women were summoned to the Evin Security Prosecutor's Office but refused to appear, challenging the legitimacy of the proceedings against them.

The current hunger strike is part of ongoing protests within the prison walls.

In August, following the execution of Reza Rasaei, a protester arrested during the nationwide demonstrations of 2021, women in Evin prison staged a protest.

Their peaceful demonstration was met with violence from security forces, who severely beat the inmates.

After the crackdown, prison officials and the prosecutor's office have been accused of obstructing justice.

They prevented forensic medical examiners from documenting the prisoners' injuries and denied some injured women access to hospital care, despite recommendations from the prison doctor.

The situation further deteriorated when, following two nights of sit-ins by female prisoners protesting death sentences and widespread executions across the country, the prosecutor's office and prison administration took other punitive measures.

A large number of women prisoners were banned from making phone calls and receiving visits for periods ranging from one to three months.