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Migration from Southern Iran in the Shadow of the Iranian Regime’s Warmongering

Jubin Katiraie
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Migration from Southern Iran in the Shadow of the Iranian Regime’s Warmongering

The migration and displacement of people from cities in southern Iran is one of the consequences of the war that has affected the lives of millions of people in recent weeks. Some media outlets have compared the current situation to the mass displacement of people from southern and western Iran during the eight-year Iran-Iraq War.

During that period, thousands of families in Khuzestan Province and other war-affected regions abandoned their homes and moved to safer areas. Now, nearly four decades after the end of that war, the same sense of fear has once again fallen over southern Iran. This time, in addition to the threat of war, people are also struggling with economic hardship, temperatures exceeding 50°C (122°F), and repeated water and electricity outages.

A war that may serve the Iranian regime as a means to further securitize society and intensify repression has a very different meaning for the people of southern Iran: concern for their lives, homes, jobs, and future.

Prospect of Renewed U.S.-Iranian Regime Talks Drives Oil Prices Lower

The Return of Painful War Memories

On July 16, the state-run news website Fararu published a report titled “The Return of War to the Memory of Cities; Residents of Abadan and Ahvaz Recall the Return of Fear and Wartime Memories,” examining the resurgence of memories from the eight-year Iran-Iraq War among people in southern Iran.

The report describes today’s conditions as “an echo of the days of the eight-year war,” a conflict whose scars remain visible in war-affected cities, from “mine warning signs” to “shrapnel embedded in walls.”

This time, however, another factor has heightened public concern: the proximity of some military bases and facilities to residential areas. The tragic incident involving a school in Minab and the exposure of civilians to the consequences of military attacks have increased concerns about the safety of ordinary people.

Life, Livelihood, or Migration?

For many people, leaving their city is not easy, even if they wish to do so. What should a family do if it has no car, cannot afford to rent a home in another city, or has no relatives or acquaintances in other provinces if the danger escalates?

Water and electricity outages during the extreme southern heat have further worsened the situation, especially for families with children or elderly members.

On July 19, the state-run newspaper Shargh addressed the same issue, writing that the shadow of war and fears of displacement have spread across regions that were already suffering from economic hardship, poor living conditions, and inadequate infrastructure.

For many people in southern Iran, the issue is no longer simply choosing whether to stay or leave; it has become a choice between survival, livelihood, and displacement.

“Where Should We Go?”

In another report published on July 21 titled “What Is Happening in the South? Where Should I Go?”, Fararu voiced the concerns of local residents, asking: “Is the city going to be emptied? Where should we go?”

The outlet writes: “No one understands the condition of the south except the people of the south.”

If people are forced to leave their cities and have no relatives or place to stay in another province, where should they go? How will they cover their living expenses? What will happen to their jobs and their children’s education? At the same time, the war has also disrupted many businesses.

Under these circumstances, Alireza Noura, deputy governor of Sistan and Baluchestan Province and special governor of Chabahar, announced that no official order had been issued to evacuate Chabahar. However, official assurances that conditions are normal have done little to ease the concerns of people who are already experiencing the effects of the war in their daily lives.

“Life on Hold” in Southern Iran

Euronews also examined the situation in Iran’s southern provinces in a report published on July 19 titled “Hostages of Geography: The Lives of 11 Million Civilians in Southern Iran Trapped by Warmongering.”

The report describes the situation as a “life on hold,” stating that the war has disrupted normal life across four southern provinces—regions that are simultaneously facing water shortages, electricity outages, extreme heat, and economic difficulties.

Not everyone in southern Iran has left, and many do not want to abandon their homes and cities. The concern is that if conditions deteriorate further, a large portion of these residents will have no clear or safe alternative.

People who have had no role in the Iranian regime’s military or regional decision-making are now paying the price with their security, livelihoods, and future.

Prospect of Renewed U.S.-Iranian Regime Talks Drives Oil Prices Lower

Mehdi Hosseini
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Prospect of Renewed U.S.-Iranian Regime Talks Drives Oil Prices Lower

Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for the Iranian regime’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in an interview with Austria’s state broadcaster that indirect contacts between Tehran and Washington are continuing, with mediators including Pakistan and Qatar facilitating the exchange of messages between the two sides.

Baghaei said, “The Americans are exchanging messages with us, and under the current circumstances, mediators, including Pakistan and Qatar, are active and are conveying messages between the parties.”

He also stressed that the existence of an appropriate framework is essential before any talks can begin, claiming that the United States has undermined such a framework.

Three European Embassies in Tehran Evacuate Staff Amid Escalating Regional Tensions

Baghaei also claimed: “Negotiations aimed at dictating or imposing demands will certainly not be acceptable to us.”

His remarks came after he also stated on Sunday, without providing details, that there had been “progress” in discussions and exchanges between Tehran and Muscat, the capital of Oman.

His comments followed the departure of an Omani delegation from Iran on Saturday evening after it had traveled to Tehran for consultations regarding the management of the Strait of Hormuz.

Oil Prices Fall More Than 5% Amid Hopes for Continued Talks

As speculation grew over the possibility of continued negotiations between the Iranian regime and the United States, and after two consecutive nights without a U.S. military strike on Iran, oil prices fell by more than 5% at the opening of Monday’s trading in Asian markets.

In Monday morning trading, the price of Brent crude fell by 5.58% to $91.38 per barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude also declined by 5.46%, reaching $84.43 per barrel.

Hunger Strike By 1,500 Death Row Prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison Marks 15th Day

Hoshang Amiri
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Hunger Strike By 1,500 Death Row Prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison Marks 15th Day

The hunger strike by approximately 1,500 death row prisoners in Unit 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison entered its fifteenth day on Monday. Reports and videos released from inside the prison indicate the deteriorating physical condition of a number of the strikers, as well as the continued inattention of officials from Iran’s judiciary and prison authorities to their health and demands.

Deteriorating Health Conditions and Continued Inaction by Iranian Regime Officials

The prisoners’ hunger strike, which began in protest against the continued implementation of death sentences, has continued despite more than two weeks having passed. According to the prisoners, no effective action has been taken so far to address either their demands or the physical condition of the hunger strikers.

Collective Hunger Strike at Ghezel Hesar Prison Calls for Halt to Executions

In one of the videos released from inside Unit 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison, a prisoner says that despite 15 days of hunger strike, none of the officials from Iran’s Judiciary or prison administrators have visited the ward to assess the condition of the strikers.

Informed sources have also reported worsening physical problems among many of the prisoners. Severe weakness, low blood pressure, weight loss, fatigue, dizziness, and reduced physical strength are among the reported symptoms. Some of the hunger strikers have largely lost the ability to carry out their daily activities due to the prolonged strike.

According to these sources, despite the prisoners’ deteriorating health, no independent medical team has been sent to examine them. Prison authorities and the prison infirmary have also failed to take effective action to address the condition of the hunger strikers. The prisoners have warned that the continuation of this situation could place the health and lives of many of them at serious risk.

Hunger Strike in Protest to Executions; Concerns Raised by Families and Human Rights Organizations

The hunger strike by prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison began in protest against the continued implementation of death sentences and the transfer of death row prisoners to solitary confinement for execution. The protest initially started in Unit 2 and later expanded through prisoner sit-ins, the publication of protest messages, the display of the slogan “No to Executions,” and even the sewing shut of the lips of several prisoners—an action that received widespread coverage in the media and among human rights activists.

Videos released from inside the prison show that the prisoners continue to insist on maintaining their hunger strike until their demands are met. At the same time, the prisoners’ families and human rights organizations have expressed concern over the health of the hunger strikers and warned that continuing the strike without access to adequate medical care could have irreversible consequences. The prisoners have also stressed that the purpose of their action is to protest the continued implementation of death sentences and to demand fair judicial review of the cases of those sentenced to death.

Retirees Protest Across Iran Against Poverty, War, and Executions

Sia Rajabi
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Retirees Protest Across Iran Against Poverty, War, and Executions

On Sunday, July 26, retirees covered by Iran’s Social Security Organization held simultaneous protest gatherings in Tehran, Ahvaz, Kermanshah, and Shush to demonstrate against deteriorating living conditions, rising inflation, soaring prices, declining purchasing power, inadequate healthcare, and what they described as the violation of their rights. In some cities, protesters also chanted slogans expressing opposition to warmongering, death sentences, and the arrest of labor and civil activists.

Tehran: “Our Salaries Are in Rials, Our Expenses Are in Dollars”

A group of Social Security retirees gathered outside the headquarters of the Social Security Organization in Tehran, protesting difficult economic conditions and the continuous decline in purchasing power while demanding that their grievances be addressed.

Protests Expand Across Iranian Cities, From Retirees and Workers to Students and Bakers

Chanting “Our salaries are in rials, our expenses are in dollars,” the protesters stressed that the constant rise in the prices of goods and services has created severe hardships for a large number of retirees.

Ahvaz: Protest Over Living Conditions in Extreme Heat

In Ahvaz, Social Security retirees also gathered outside the Khuzestan Provincial Social Security Office despite the extreme heat.

Protesting economic conditions, inflation, and living hardships, demonstrators chanted slogans including “Wealthy Iran, what has an incompetent official done to you?” and “Enough warmongering, our tables are empty.” They called for improved living conditions and pensions that reflect the actual cost of living.

Kermanshah: Protest Against War, Inflation, and Death Sentences

Social Security retirees in Kermanshah also gathered outside the city’s Social Security Office. In addition to protesting living conditions, inflation, war, and healthcare issues, they expressed support for prisoners sentenced to death.

Participants chanted slogans including “From Isfahan to Tehran, against the death sentence” and “Against the death sentence, we will stand until the end.”

The retirees also voiced their demands through slogans such as “Inflation, high prices, no to war and destruction,” “So much oppression and injustice has driven us into the streets,” “Unity, unity against poverty and corruption,” “Healthcare should be free, but it has become paid, my friends,”

“Imprisoned workers must be freed” and “Imprisoned teachers must be freed.”

Shush: Commitment to Continue Protests Until Demands Are Met

Social Security retirees in Shush also held a protest gathering, emphasizing that they would continue pursuing their labor-related and economic demands.

Chanting “Only in the streets will we win our rights,” the protesters declared that they would continue their demonstrations until their demands are fulfilled.

In their statement and slogans, the retirees in Shush presented a range of economic and social demands, including wage increases in line with the cost of living, controlling inflation and rising prices, creating employment opportunities, regulating housing rents, providing free education and healthcare, guaranteeing the right to protest and strike, releasing detained protesters, ending the security crackdown, combating corruption, eliminating discrimination, and ensuring the fair distribution of wealth

The simultaneous protests by retirees in four cities took place as demonstrations over living conditions, declining purchasing power, inflation, and rising prices have become an ongoing demand of retirees and other salaried groups across different cities in Iran in recent months.

Saudi-Led Coalition Bombs Hodeidah Port Are in Escalation of Clashes with Tehran-Backed Houthis

Mehdi Hosseini
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Saudi-Led Coalition Bombs Hodeidah Port Are in Escalation of Clashes with Tehran-Backed Houthis

Yemen’s Houthis announced on the morning of Saturday, July 25, that they had carried out a missile attack on Saudi Arabia, just hours after Saudi Arabia targeted the group’s positions in response to Houthi attacks on Saudi vessels.

The attacks came several days after the Iranian regime-backed Houthis announced the imposition of a “naval blockade” against Saudi Arabia and subsequently attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.

The escalation has heightened concerns about the opening of a new front in the regional conflict and further disruptions to global oil shipping routes.

The Houthi-affiliated Ansar Allah media outlet reported early Saturday that a “missile attack” had caused a fire in the city of Jizan in southern Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea coast.

Saudi Arabia has not yet confirmed the claim. However, the Saudi Civil Defense Authority briefly warned residents of Jizan and Yanbu early Saturday of a “potential danger” before canceling the alerts a few minutes later.

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Similar warnings have been issued in the past when missiles or drones were launched toward Saudi Arabia.

The alleged Houthi attack came after the Saudi-led coalition announced on Friday that it had struck the group’s military positions in Yemen and destroyed targets that had been used to threaten commercial shipping.

The Houthis described the Saudi strikes as a “dangerous escalation” and warned that Riyadh’s actions “will not go unanswered.”

From Declaring a “Blockade” to Attacking Oil Tankers

The Houthis announced last Monday that they had imposed a “naval blockade” against Saudi Arabia, citing the principle of “an eye for an eye.”

The group described the move as a response to what it called Saudi Arabia’s “blockade” of Yemen over nearly the past 12 years.

In a radio broadcast directed at ships, the Houthis also warned that they would target vessels “belonging to the Saudi enemy” that failed to comply with the declared blockade.

The group also said early Thursday that it had targeted two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.

Saudi Arabia confirmed that one vessel belonging to a Saudi company had been targeted. The Saudi Press Agency, citing an official from the country’s transport authority, reported that a ship was struck while sailing in the Red Sea. Its hull sustained minor damage, but it was able to continue its voyage.

U.S. President Donald Trump warned following the Houthi attacks that Washington would hold the Iranian regime responsible for any future attacks by the group and threatened both Iran and the Houthis with “military punishment” if the attacks continued.

Houthis: We Will Not Close the Bab al-Mandab Strait

Despite declaring a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, the Houthis say they do not intend to completely halt ship traffic through the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Mohammed Abdulsalam, the Houthi spokesperson and one of the group’s senior negotiators, said on Friday, July 24, “Contrary to what some claim, Bab al-Mandab has not been closed.”

He stressed that the blockade declared by the group targets “only the Saudi side.”

The statement came after several Iranian regime military officials, during and after the 40-day war with the United States and Israel, had threatened that the Houthis might intervene on Iran’s behalf and close the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Despite the Houthis’ insistence that the strait remains open, the recent attacks have affected the behavior of shipping companies. According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), at least nine ships have changed course since the blockade against Saudi Arabia was announced.

Reuters also reported that the Houthi attacks forced several oil tankers to alter their routes and head north toward the Suez Canal. To reach Asia, these vessels would have to take the much longer route around Africa.

The Red Sea’s Growing Importance Amid Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz

The escalating tensions in the Red Sea have become even more significant as oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has declined sharply due to the war between Iran and the United States.

To reduce its dependence on the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia transports part of its oil by pipeline to the port of Yanbu on the Red Sea coast. As a result, the Red Sea route has played an increasingly important role in the kingdom’s oil exports in recent months.

Iranian Regime Replaces Essential Goods with Non-Essential Items in Subsidized Voucher Program

Hoshang Amiri
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Iranian Regime Replaces Essential Goods with Non-Essential Items in Subsidized Voucher Program

Peyman Falsafi, a member of the Iranian regime’s Majlis (parliament), said the government, instead of increasing the rial value of the electronic subsidy voucher, has expanded the number of eligible products from the original 11 items to dozens of products, to the point that even pizza cheese and, “in some places, bottled water is also offered.”

Falsafi, a member of the Majlis Agriculture Committee, told the state-run ILNA news agency on Saturday, July 25, that rising prices for red meat, chicken, and dairy products have forced some households to remove these goods from their shopping baskets, while non-essential items have taken a larger share of purchases made with the subsidy voucher.

The remarks come as the monthly voucher credit remains at 1 million tomans (10 million rials, approximately $5.20) per person. However, according to calculations based on official prices published by the Statistical Center of Iran, the cost of purchasing the program’s original basket of 11 essential goods had reached about 5.4 million tomans (54 million rials, approximately $28.40) per person in June.

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As a result, the voucher’s value of 1 million tomans (10 million rials) now covers less than one-fifth of the cost of the same basket with which the program was originally launched.

Under the revised voucher program, which took effect in January, each person was allocated a monthly credit of 1 million tomans (10 million rials).

The original basket included 11 items, including rice, cooking oil, red meat, chicken, eggs, legumes, milk, yogurt, and cheese. The program’s stated objective was to help households maintain their purchasing power for essential goods.

Falsafi said the law does not specify a fixed number of products but instead emphasizes providing 2,640 calories of nutritional needs. He said the government initially selected 11 essential goods to meet that objective.

According to him, the range of eligible products has now expanded considerably, and by doing so the government has “avoided the real issue.”

He added that under such circumstances, a person who realizes the voucher credit is insufficient to buy meat may choose not to purchase it and instead spend the credit on other goods.

One Million Tomans Versus a Basket Costing at Least Five Million

According to calculations based on data from the Statistical Center of Iran, the cost of purchasing the voucher basket’s 11 main items for each person was about 4.58 million tomans (45.8 million rials) in March 2026. The figure rose to about 5.3 million tomans (53 million rials) in April and May, and to approximately 5.4 million tomans (54 million rials) in June.

This means that between March and June alone, the cost of the basket increased by nearly 18%, while the voucher credit of 1 million tomans (10 million rials) remained unchanged.

For a family of four, the monthly voucher credit amounts to 4 million tomans (40 million rials), while the cost of purchasing the full basket based on June prices exceeded 21 million tomans (210 million rials, approximately $110).

Price increases for some essential items have been significantly higher. According to data from the Statistical Center of Iran, compared with the previous month, prices in January rose by more than 77% for liquid cooking oil, nearly 79% for solid cooking oil, about 49% for eggs, more than 37% for imported rice, and 29% for chicken.

During the same month, cheese prices increased by more than 17%, beef and veal by 16%, lamb by about 15%, and milk by more than 11%.

Food prices continued to rise in subsequent months, and by March 2026 the prices of some items had increased several-fold compared with a year earlier. Annual price increases included about three-and-a-half times for solid cooking oil, more than three times for liquid cooking oil, and more than double for imported rice.

The head of the Majlis Dynamic Agriculture and Nomadic Affairs Caucus also pointed to another problem in implementing the program, saying that some stores have refused to provide goods to voucher holders because the government has not settled payments owed to them.

At the same time as the lawmaker’s remarks, the government announced on Saturday, July 25, 2026, that it currently has no plans to increase the value of the subsidy voucher.

Iranian Regime Official Killed While Preparing to Suppress Protests

Mehdi Hosseini
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Iranian Regime Official Killed While Preparing to Suppress Protests

The state-run Nour News, a media outlet close to the slain Ali Shamkhani, revealed that the meeting in which he and several senior Iranian regime military commanders were killed on the first day of the 40-day war had been convened, among other purposes, to follow up on a new plan aimed at organizing forces and procuring new equipment to confront protests.

The outlet wrote on Friday, July 24, that one of the two agenda items for the morning meeting on February 28, 2026, was to follow up on the implementation of the plan for “organizing resources, structures, personnel, and procuring new equipment for managing unrest.” The second agenda item was reportedly to examine the imminent possibility of a U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran.

According to Nour News, the plan was drafted after the widespread January protests, and Ali Khamenei, the former supreme leader of the Iranian regime, had approved its implementation and emphasized accelerating its execution.

The report also states that Khamenei had instructed the Secretariat of the Defense Council and Ali Shamkhani personally, rather than the Supreme National Security Council, to oversee the implementation of the plan through to its execution.

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Ali Shamkhani, who served as secretary of the Iranian regime’s Supreme National Security Council from 2013 to 2023, was appointed secretary of the newly established Defense Council after it was formed in 2025.

Nour News claimed that the purpose of the plan was to increase the preparedness of security and law enforcement forces to confront future protests with “the least possible damage and human casualties.”

During the January protests, Iran’s regime carried out the bloodiest crackdown on protests in its history through widespread internet shutdowns and the use of lethal force.

Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have documented the widespread use of live ammunition against protesters, and Iranian regime officials themselves confirmed that at least 3,117 people were killed during the protests. The real figure is estimated to be much higher.

In another part of its report, Nour News revealed for the first time that Shahid Meysami Industries, affiliated with the Iranian regime’s Ministry of Defense and targeted by Israel during the 12-day war, was responsible for designing and producing equipment used to control gatherings and protests.

According to Nour News, the facility’s primary mission was to develop tools that would enable the management of protests without the use of lethal weapons.

At the time of the attack on the facility, Iranian regime officials had provided no explanation as to why it had been targeted, and the nature of its activities had not been officially disclosed. This is the first time that a media outlet close to the regime has publicly described the facility’s mission.

The protests that began on December 28, 2025, initially erupted in response to the collapse of the rial’s value, inflation, and the cost-of-living crisis, and quickly spread to dozens of cities. Within a short time, protesters’ slogans began targeting the Iranian regime and Ali Khamenei personally.

Contrary to the official figures released by Iran’s regime regarding protesters killed, some human rights organizations estimated the death toll at between five thousand and six thousand people.

Like other Iranian regime media outlets and officials, Nour News also claimed that the January protests were part of a foreign plot and a prelude to a U.S. and Israeli military attack, even though Iranian regime officials have consistently blamed anti-government protests on foreign governments.

According to the Nour News report, the Defense Council’s subcommittee meeting, chaired by Shamkhani, was reviewing this plan as well as the possibility of an imminent U.S. and Israeli attack when the first wave of strikes in the 40-day war began.

Ali Shamkhani was killed on the morning of February 28 during that very meeting, along with several senior Iranian regime commanders, in a joint U.S.-Israeli attack.

Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian regime’s foreign minister, recently said that on February 28, when the joint Israeli-U.S. attack on Iran began, in addition to the office of Ali Khamenei, the offices of Ali Shamkhani, Mohammad Shirazi—both senior military officials—and Ali Asghar Hejazi, a senior security official and close aide to Khamenei, were also targeted. Of those targeted, only Hejazi survived.

Iran’s Regime Escalates Death Sentences and Pressure Against Political Prisoners

Sia Rajabi
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Iran’s Regime Escalates Death Sentences and Pressure Against Political Prisoners

Iranian authorities have intensified their crackdown on individuals accused of links to the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), imposing lengthy prison sentences, issuing death threats, and expanding the use of capital punishment against political prisoners.

According to information released by the Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), five political prisoners currently held in Hall 37 of Ghezel Hesar Prison are being denied basic amenities while facing increasing judicial pressure. Several of the prisoners had previously been transferred from Fashafouyeh Prison to Ghezel Hesar in April 2026.

Among them are two young relatives accused of PMOI membership. Abolfazl Rahbar, a 23-year-old house painter, and his cousin Omid Rahbar, a 24-year-old laborer, were arrested in January 2026. They were recently informed verbally of prison sentences of 20 and 26 years, respectively.

Two other detainees in the same ward are reportedly facing explicit threats of execution. Vahid Azizi, a 42-year-old civil and groundwater engineer with a PhD, was arrested on January 6, 2026, during the nationwide protests and has since been threatened with the death penalty. Mostafa Imani, a 39-year-old writer and designer from Karaj who holds a master’s degree in art, was arrested on March 29, 2026, on charges related to alleged contact with and membership in the PMOI. Prosecutors have reportedly warned him that he could face execution.

The fifth prisoner, Farshid Dolatyari, a 41-year-old driver, has remained in detention since November 2025. According to the report, he has been subjected to sustained pressure while his legal status remains unresolved. In December 2025, the Ministry of Intelligence-affiliated Mehr News Agency published his photograph without identifying him by name, alleging that he had stockpiled weapons.

The reported cases come amid a broader escalation in the use of executions against political opponents. On July 22, authorities executed Mehdi Khanaki, a 26-year-old law graduate and PMOI member, following months of torture and a trial lacking due process. Khanaki had been arrested in February 2026 after participating in the nationwide protests.

The report states that approximately 2,400 people have been executed over the past year, including ten PMOI members. It also alleges that authorities have refused to return the bodies of some executed prisoners to their families.

The judiciary has also expanded the use of capital punishment against relatives of political dissidents. Amir Hassan Akbari-Monfared, a 22-year-old accounting student, was sentenced to death on charges of “rebellion.” The sentence was linked to his family relationship with a deceased PMOI member. His family had previously lost four relatives during executions in the 1980s.

In another case, PMOI supporter Arghavan Fallahi, 25, was sentenced to death on July 1, 2026, after what the report describes as months of physical and psychological torture.

There have been other cases in Rasht’s Lakan Prison, where several PMOI supporters have received death sentences following brief video hearings conducted without legal representation. Those named include Zahra Tabari, a 68-year-old electrical engineer; Yaghoub Derakhshan, 51, who reportedly underwent a retrial; and Amin Farahavar, a 38-year-old poet who was denied medical treatment for internal bleeding before being sentenced to death on charges of “enmity against God.”

The NCRI has called on the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Human Rights Council, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran to intervene. The organization urged international bodies to press for the revocation of the reported death sentences and to dispatch an independent fact-finding mission to inspect prisons including Ghezel Hesar and Evin, citing concerns over the treatment and safety of political prisoners.

Thirteenth Day of the Hunger Strike By 1,500 Prisoners, Condition of the Strikers Is Critical

Jubin Katiraie
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Thirteenth Day of the Hunger Strike By 1,500 Prisoners, Condition of the Strikers Is Critical

The collective hunger strike by around 1,500 death-row prisoners in Unit 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj entered its 13th day on Saturday, July 25. As the protest continues, a new video from inside the prison has been released, showing a number of prisoners holding signs reading “No to Execution” while reaffirming their determination to continue the hunger strike.

According to received reports, the strike continues in protest against the ongoing implementation of execution sentences and what the prisoners describe as the “intensification of executions.” The strikers are demanding an immediate halt to executions, respect for the right to life, and that the authorities address their demands.

The video released from Unit 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison shows that despite nearly two weeks having passed since the hunger strike began, the prisoners remain steadfast in their demands and have declared that they will continue their hunger strike until their demands are addressed.

At the same time, reports from inside the prison indicate that the physical condition of many of the hunger strikers has significantly deteriorated. According to informed sources, the prolonged hunger strike has caused severe weakness, low blood pressure, weight loss, exhaustion, and physical incapacity among a number of prisoners, and some have lost a significant portion of their physical strength due to refusing food.

Collective Hunger Strike at Ghezel Hesar Prison Calls for Halt to Executions

One of the prisoners said about the conditions inside the prison that many of the hunger strikers are suffering from severe physical weakness after 13 days without food. However, despite the deterioration of their condition, no effective medical care has been provided so far.

According to these reports, officials at Ghezel Hesar Prison and the prison infirmary have so far taken no effective measures to examine or treat the hunger strikers. Informed sources say that despite the prisoners’ severe physical decline, no medical team has been dispatched to assess their health.

During the first days of the protest, images were also released showing a number of prisoners who had sewn their lips shut in an act of protest, an action that received widespread attention in the media and on social media.

Death Fatwa: Salman Rushdie’s Attacker Coordinated with an Individual in Iran

Esmaeil Mohades
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Death Fatwa: Salman Rushdie’s Attacker Coordinated with an Individual in Iran

The attack on Salman Rushdie was carried out in connection with the death fatwa issued against him by Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of Iran’s regime. A new report by The New York Times has revealed additional details about the attempted assassination of Rushdie. According to the report, prosecutors in the case against Hadi Matar allege that before carrying out the attack, he communicated with an individual in Iran identified as “Kamyar” and discussed implementing the death fatwa against the author. The allegation was presented during court proceedings and forms part of the evidence submitted by prosecutors.

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New Details About the Death Fatwa

According to The New York Times, prosecutors said that in May 2022, Hadi Matar sent a message to an individual in Iran identified as “Kamyar.” According to prosecutors, Matar wrote that he knew Rushdie’s location but had questions about how to carry out the attack.

According to the same court documents, Matar also asked whether the death fatwa against Salman Rushdie remained valid. Prosecutors say that after the individual assured him the fatwa was still in effect, Matar decided to carry out the attack. These allegations were presented as part of the prosecution’s evidence and legal arguments in court, and The New York Times based its report on those filings.

The Attack on Salman Rushdie

On August 12, 2022, Salman Rushdie was stabbed while preparing to speak at the Chautauqua Institution in New York State. Hadi Matar rushed onto the stage and attacked the author, stabbing him multiple times.

Rushdie was seriously injured in the attack. He lost the sight in one eye, and the nerves in one of his hands sustained severe damage. Security personnel at the scene immediately detained the attacker, and criminal proceedings were subsequently initiated.

Background of the Death Fatwa

The origins of the case date back to 1989. Following the publication of The Satanic Verses, Ruhollah Khomeini, the then leader of Iran’s regime, issued a fatwa calling for the killing of Salman Rushdie and the publishers who knowingly disseminated the book. Since then, the death fatwa has remained one of the most controversial issues in relations between Iran and Western countries and has repeatedly drawn international attention over the decades.

The recent New York Times report has once again brought the issue into the spotlight. Prosecutors believe the alleged communication between Hadi Matar and an individual in Iran may shed light on the planning of the attack. However, these allegations have been presented as part of the ongoing judicial proceedings, and it is up to the court to evaluate the evidence and determine their validity.

The release of these details, as judicial proceedings continue, has once again placed the attempted assassination of Salman Rushdie and the consequences of the death fatwa at the center of international media attention.

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