Iran’s growing dissent against the regime’s escalating execution rates took center stage with the expansion of the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign. The movement, now in its 50th week, has gained significant traction, with prisoners in 30 facilities across the country participating in hunger strikes.
This week, inmates from Sepidar and Ramhormoz prisons joined the campaign, protesting the regime’s use of executions as a tool for oppression. The latest demonstrations coincide with the anniversary of the Ukrainian airliner tragedy, highlighting a growing solidarity among justice seekers and families of victims of the regime’s crimes.
Over 1,000 people were executed in 2024, marking a grim record for the Iranian regime. January 1, 2025, saw the execution of 21 individuals, further fueling domestic and international condemnation.
The campaign has expanded its reach to major prisons, including Evin, Ghezel Hesar, and Sheiban Ahvaz, among others. Activists and participants are calling for the abolition of the death penalty, emphasizing the global trend as 128 countries have already abolished capital punishment.
#IranProtests: Nationwide Hunger Strike Marks 49th Week of "No to Executions Tuesdays"https://t.co/MCOyV1Lx2K
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) December 31, 2024
The movement has also received support from activists and rights organizations worldwide, urging Iranians and the international community to stand against the regime’s inhumane practices. Despite severe crackdowns, campaign organizers remain steadfast, asserting that victory is both attainable and inevitable.
The full statement of the “No to Execution Campaign” follows:
Throughout history, even during wars and conflicts between nations, it has been a longstanding tradition across the world for governments to declare ceasefires on holidays and special occasions, or for rulers to release prisoners.
But now, in Iran under the rule of religious despots, it feels as though we exist in a parallel world where traditions and values are trampled, and vices are exalted as virtues.
For instance, on January 1, coinciding with the New Year, the regime executed 21 citizens, and over 80 individuals have been hanged since the start of December. The execution of 1,000 people in 2024 alone marks yet another grim record in the regime’s atrocities.
Meanwhile, many governments worldwide are moving to abolish the death penalty. To date, 128 countries have eliminated this medieval punishment. In a recent example, Zimbabwe abolished the death penalty entirely as a New Year’s gift to its people. Yet in occupied Iran, executions, repression, and torture are on the rise daily.
Iran’s brave and resilient people have demonstrated that they will never be intimidated. Even at their lives’ cost, they defend their fundamental human rights and legitimate demands. While the regime intensifies executions and repression to instill fear and prevent uprisings, the growing “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign counters this effort.
On the 1st Tuesday of 2025, the 'No to Execution Tuesdays' campaign marked its 50th week, spreading to 30 prisons, incl. Sepidar Prison (Ahvaz) & Ramhormoz Prison. Their statement calls 2024’s 1,000 executions 'another record of this regime’s crimes.' @drmaisato @antonioguterres… pic.twitter.com/w2PHnbFuqc
— IRAN HRM (@IranHrm) January 7, 2025
In recent days, several prisoners in Sepidar and Ramhormoz prisons have announced their solidarity with the campaign by protesting against the death penalty and beginning hunger strikes.
On Tuesday, January 7, 2025, members of the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign will hold hunger strikes. The date also coincides with the anniversary of the regime’s criminal missile attack on the Ukrainian airliner. Fortunately, today we are witnessing remarkable unity among justice seekers and the families of the victims of this tragedy. This unity must extend to the families of those executed, including prisoners accused of general and social crimes.
We express our condolences to all the families of those who lost their lives in the struggle for freedom and equality, and we honor the memory of the victims of the Ukrainian airliner tragedy. We emphasize the necessity for victims of the regime’s crimes to oppose the death penalty and call on them to support the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign.
We thank all domestic and international activists in various fields who have supported this campaign. Once again, we urge the people of Iran and the world to work toward the institutionalization of the rightful demand of “No to Executions” and to stand firm against this inhumane sentence. Rest assured, victory is within reach and achievable.
3,000 prominent figures worldwide join the "No to Execution in Iran" campaign . With 74% of global executions in 2023, the regime uses death to instill fear. They also endorse @Maryam_Rajavi's call to end executions in #Iran. #StopExecutionsinIran pic.twitter.com/855DhxXFTF
— SIMAY AZADI TV (@en_simayazadi) December 11, 2024
The “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign has now expanded to include Sepidar and Ramhormoz prisons, reaching 30 different prisons. Members of the campaign will go on hunger strikes during the 50th week of the campaign in the following prisons:
- Evin Prison (Women’s Ward, Wards 4 and 8)
- Ghezel Hesar (Units 2 and 4)
- Central Karaj
- Greater Tehran
- Khorin Varamin
- Arak
- Khorramabad
- Asadabad Isfahan
- Dastgerd Isfahan
- Sheiban Ahvaz
- Nezam Shiraz
- Bam
- Kahnuj
- Tabas
- Mashhad
- Qaemshahr
- Rasht (Men’s and Women’s Wards)
- Roodsar
- Ardabil
- Tabriz
- Urmia
- Salmas
- Khoy
- Naqadeh
- Saqqez
- Baneh
- Marivan
- Kamyaran
- Sepidar Ahvaz
- Ramhormoz
No to Executions Tuesdays Campaign
Week 50
Tuesday, January 7, 2025