The physical condition of Maryam Deris and Fariba Hosseini, two political prisoners currently on hunger strike in Adel Abad Prison in Shiraz, has been reported as critical, heightening serious concerns about their health and survival.
Despite the severity of their condition, prison authorities have refused to transfer them to specialized medical facilities or provide adequate professional healthcare.
These developments follow the nationwide protests of January 2026, during which thousands were arrested across multiple Iranian cities. Pressure on political prisoners has continued in the aftermath of the crackdown.
Maryam Deris: Dry Hunger Strike in Protest of Re-Arrest
Maryam Deris was arrested at her home by security forces on February 14, 2026. On February 23, 2026, she began a dry hunger strike in protest of what she describes as her unlawful detention and judicial obstruction in the processing of her court-approved bail.
A dry hunger strike, defined as the complete refusal of both food and water, is considered one of the most extreme and medically dangerous forms of protest undertaken by prisoners. It can lead within days to acute dehydration, severe hypotension, kidney failure, cardiac complications, and death.
Judicial authorities have set bail at 2 billion tomans. Although her family has stated that they are prepared to post bail, they report deliberate procedural obstruction by judicial bodies preventing her release. Her relatives describe these actions as a form of psychological pressure and punitive treatment beyond the formal sentence.
Deris had previously been arrested during the 2022 crackdown on nationwide protests and was released in October 2025 after completing her sentence. Her re-arrest, only months after serving her full term, raises serious questions regarding the security rationale and legal basis for her renewed detention.
Fariba Hosseini: 37-Year-Old Dentist on Hunger Strike
Simultaneously, Fariba Hosseini, a 37-year-old dentist also held in Adel Abad Prison in Shiraz, has been on a wet hunger strike since February 10, 2026. Reports indicate severe physical weakness, reduced mobility, and rapidly deteriorating health condition.
Fariba Hosseini was arrested on January 15, 2026, on charges related to disseminating information about the government’s suppression of the January 2026 nationwide protests.
The denial of timely and specialized medical care to prisoners on prolonged hunger strike, particularly in advanced stages, can quickly result in irreversible organ damage or death.
