Former Iranian Prisoner's Hunger Strike at London US Embassy Demands Trump Action
A former Iranian political prisoner has embarked on a determined hunger strike outside the United States Embassy in London, vowing to continue her protest until former President Donald Trump authorises military strikes against the Iranian regime. Nasrin Roshan, aged 62, has now refused food for five consecutive days as she maintains a round-the-clock vigil in Vauxhall, south London.
A Plea for Intervention Amidst Regime Crackdown
Ms Roshan, who is experiencing significant physical depletion and reports feeling unwell, is issuing a direct appeal to the United States to "act now" and cease what she describes as "playing with the Iranian people." Her protest is a response to the ongoing violent suppression of anti-regime demonstrations in Iran, which human rights monitors confirm have resulted in thousands of fatalities.
The campaigner, who has endured a total of five and a half years imprisonment in Iran, expressed her profound anguish to reporters. "I feel so much pain for my people in Iran," she stated. "Trump said if the Islamic regime killed people, he'd help. Now he is saying the opposite. Why are you playing with the Iranian people? When are you going to help them? Please act now to help them – they are being killed in the streets."
Escalating Tensions and Human Rights Concerns
According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, more than 4,500 deaths have been verified during the anti-government protests that erupted in December, with an additional 9,000 fatalities currently under investigation. Ms Roshan initiated her hunger strike on Saturday, positioning herself directly opposite the embassy gates. She has permission to protest at the location for a ten-day period and has declared she will not leave, even sleeping in a nearby vehicle.
Supported by her husband and a small group of friends, the former prisoner revealed she "can't sleep" due to the ongoing crackdown on dissent in her homeland. The physical toll of her protest is becoming increasingly evident. "Until yesterday, I was good. But today, my mouth is very dry and I haven't got energy," she described. "My feet are in a lot of pain. My mouth is so dry and my lips are dry." Although she continues to drink water, Ms Roshan has vowed to escalate to a "dry hunger strike" without any fluids if Trump fails to act within the ten-day window.
The Grim Physiology of a Hunger Strike
Historical analysis of hunger strikes in British prisons outlines a harrowing physiological progression:
- Days One to Seven: Characterised by a decreasing heart rate, physical wasting, and significant weight loss as the body consumes its fat reserves.
- Days Eight to Fourteen: The body begins utilising glycogen stores from the liver and muscles, leading to ammonia production and a distinctive odour. Weight loss slows, and loss of heart mass causes a slowed heartbeat.
- Days Fifteen Onwards: Protesters often experience tendencies to collapse, become bedbound, and suffer from severe nightmares. Physical and psychological health deteriorates markedly, with very disturbed sleep patterns.
- Beyond Seventy Days: Without medical intervention or nutrition, survival becomes extremely precarious, with historical cases like Terence MacSwiney in 1920 lasting 74 days before succumbing.
A Life Marked by Persecution
Ms Roshan's activism is rooted in personal trauma. She was first imprisoned in Iran for four years at the age of 18. After moving to the UK in 2000, she was arrested at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Airport in November 2023 while visiting family. An Iranian court subsequently sentenced her to four years on charges of "assembly and collusion," though she was released after serving one and a half years. She has described her recent incarceration as a form of mental torture, alleging denial of proper medication and being forced to use untrustworthy alternatives.
International Political Context
This protest unfolds against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical rhetoric. Donald Trump has recently called for an end to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's long-standing regime, labelling him "a sick man who should run his country properly and stop killing people." He has suggested it is "time to look for new leadership in Iran." Meanwhile, the threat of US military action persists, with reports of US naval assets, including the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group, moving westward.
In a stark warning, Iran's foreign minister has threatened a ferocious and prolonged retaliation if the country comes under attack, cautioning that such a conflict would engulf the wider region and impact global populations. This follows a 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June, which saw US involvement in strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, leading to Iranian missile retaliation on a US air base in Qatar.
With communication channels severely restricted within Iran, accurately gauging the scale of the domestic protests remains challenging. However, images continue to emerge depicting widespread dissent across the country, underscoring the crisis that has driven Nasrin Roshan to her extreme and perilous act of protest on the streets of London.
