News Desk — Amid escalating violations inside Iranian prisons, new chapters of suffering among political prisoners at Tehran’s infamous Evin Prison continue to unfold. Female inmates face harsh conditions that range from medical neglect and psychological torture to deprivation of their most basic rights.

In a new wave of protest within Iranian prisons, writer and child rights activist Soronaz Ahmadi, herself a former political prisoner, declared that she has begun a hunger strike in solidarity with political detainee Nasim Simyari, who is currently held at Evin Prison in Tehran. Ahmadi announced her decision in a post shared on her Instagram account on Sunday, October 13, stressing that she would continue her strike unless Simyari’s demands were met by Wednesday, October 16.

This move followed the earlier announcement by Nasim Simyari, one of the detainees of Iran’s popular uprising, who began her own hunger strike in solidarity with Fariba Kamalabadi — a long-term prisoner who has spent more than ten years behind bars. Kamalabadi was expected to be released last week, but the judiciary reversed its decision at the last minute, triggering widespread frustration among the women’s ward of Evin Prison.

In a heartfelt letter from inside the prison, Simyari described Kamalabadi as “a symbol of humanity and tolerance,” noting that the prisoners had begun preparing for her release — doing her hair and dividing her belongings — before being informed that her freedom was “no longer possible.”

In another emotional post, Soronaz Ahmadi wrote about her hunger strike in solidarity with Kamalabadi: “Fariba Kamalabadi spent ten years in prison and has now been serving a new sentence for nearly three years. Through her perseverance, she stands as a symbol of triumph over oppression. Every time I look at her, I see her victory over the prison.”

Ahmadi condemned what she called “psychological torture” inflicted through prolonged uncertainty and waiting, describing it as one of the most severe forms of mental abuse. She explained that her close bond with Nasim Simyari — whom she described as “the embodiment of the spirit of resistance” — motivated her to take this stand despite her own ongoing physical and emotional struggles since her release.

In her last phone call with Ahmadi, Simyari expressed her resolve: “We must not let them break us so easily. Let them continue their harassment — we may face punishment again, but we will not surrender our dignity.”

Simyari also revealed the toll her imprisonment has taken on her mental health: “During my time in prison, my psychological state deteriorated. I started taking antidepressants — first two pills, then six — and I still suffer from chronic anxiety, panic attacks, and heavy depression.”