Political prisoners Mokhtar Al-Bushokeh and Hamzeh Savari on hunger strike

Mokhtar Al-Bushokeh, a political prisoner from Khuzestan held in Arak prison, has been on hunger strike since Tuesday 6 October 2026, and Hamzeh Savari Lefteh, a political prisoner in Ghezel Hesar prison in Karaj, began a hunger strike on Wednesday 14 October in support of him. HRANA announced on Sunday 18 October that both prisoners have developed physical problems.

Al-Bushokeh's strike is a protest against the prison officials' failure to keep their promise to return him to Sheiban prison in Ahvaz. He had gone on hunger strike earlier for the same reason and ended it after six days when officials promised to accept his demand; but the promise was not kept, and he resumed the strike. On Saturday 17 October this political prisoner was moved from solitary confinement back to the general ward.

The physical condition of the two political prisoners

According to HRANA, Al-Bushokeh is suffering from low blood pressure, kidney pain and digestive problems. He has kidney disease and a hernia and needs surgery. According to the same report, after his transfer to Arak he has been held in the ward for those charged with drug offences, contrary to the principle of separating categories of crime, which the Islamic Republic's own prison regulations stress.

Hamzeh Savari now also has low blood pressure. During his years in prison he has complained of heart disease, pleurisy, a knee injury, chronic stomach pain, neck arthritis and spinal problems, and HRANA says he has repeatedly been denied appropriate specialist treatment.

Background of the cases

Mokhtar Al-Bushokeh, together with Mohammad Ali Amouri and Jaber Al-Bushokeh, members of the "Al-Hiwar" cultural and artistic institute in Ramshir, was arrested in 2010 and sentenced to death. The sentence was commuted to life imprisonment and in July–August 2026 was reduced to 25 years and one day. After 15 years in Sheiban prison, he was exiled to Arak prison in January–February 2026.

Hamzeh Savari was arrested on 2 September 2005, at the age of 16. The Ahvaz Revolutionary Court sentenced him to death on charges of "corruption on earth", "armed rebellion" and "acting against national security"; the sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. He has now spent more than 21 years in Karoun prison in Ahvaz, Rajaishahr, Evin and Ghezel Hesar prisons, and according to HRANA he has repeatedly been put in solitary confinement, beaten, and denied visits, a lawyer and leave.

The strikes come as repeated reports of political prisoners being denied medical treatment and Kazem Alinejad Baranlou's hunger strike in Evin show that pressure on political prisoners in the Islamic Republic's prisons continues.

Hamzeh Savari, arrested at the age of 16, has now spent more than 21 years in the Islamic Republic's prisons.