In a massive, coordinated show of defiance against Iran’s escalating use of the death penalty, political prisoners across 58 detention facilities nationwide launched a joint hunger strike on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. The action marks the 129th consecutive week of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign, which has now expanded to include inmates at Broujen Prison in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province.
The hunger strike comes amid what activists describe as a “horrific surge” in executions under the administration of Masoud Pezeshkian, including the recent hanging of a female prisoner in Shiraz’s notorious Adelabad Prison.
A ‘Horrific’ Surge in Capital Punishment
In a powerful statement released on Tuesday, organizers of the campaign sounded a dire warning over the state’s rapid acceleration of judicial killings, particularly targeting those arrested during the nationwide protests of December 2025.
“In continuation of these killings and crackdowns, we are witnessing heavy sentences and executions for prisoners, especially those detained during the January 2026 uprising,” the campaign’s statement read.
Iran: 12 young protesters (18–27) from Isfahan's Jan 2026 uprising face imminent execution after an unfair trial.
Urgent action needed. #StopExecutionsInIran https://t.co/pOllpYutKF pic.twitter.com/mTRPRKIIGM— IRAN HRM (@IranHrm) July 14, 2026
According to the organizers, the scale of the state’s judicial reprisal is staggering: “In addition to the dozens of people who have already been executed in connection with the uprising, more than 100 other political prisoners whose names have been published are currently on death row. Death sentences have also been issued for 12 prisoners linked to the case known as the ‘Alikhani Square of Isfahan’.”
Mounting Tensions and Prison Clashes
The statement also detailed a series of violent crackdowns inside major Iranian penitentiaries over the past 48 hours.
On Sunday, July 12, 2026, the prison guard at Evin Prison reportedly launched a violent raid on the political women’s ward. The assault was reportedly triggered by prisoners protesting severe overcrowding.
Meanwhile, at Ghezel Hesar Prison on Monday, July 13, inmates in Unit 2 launched immediate protests and hunger strikes after six of their fellow cellmates were abruptly transferred to solitary confinement—a move that almost always precedes imminent execution.
🚨 Week 129 of "No to Executions Tuesdays" in 58 Prisons Across Iran
Political prisoners marking the 129th week of the "No to Executions Tuesdays" campaign condemned the regime's escalating wave of executions during Muharram.
In their statement, they also expressed solidarity… pic.twitter.com/Lm3nlSyjJ1
— SIMAY AZADI TV (@en_simayazadi) July 14, 2026
A Campaign Unbroken
Despite the systemic pressure, physical abuse, and isolation, the campaign organizers emphasized that their resolve remains unbroken after more than two years of weekly strikes.
“Prisoners and members of the ‘No to Execution Tuesdays’ campaign have went on strike and protested without interruption for 129 weeks, every Tuesday, against the crime being carried out daily by the regime in the prisons… and they have not backed down on this path.”
The campaign ended with an urgent plea to the international community and human rights organizations, warning of imminent executions at Ghezel Hesar and urging the public to “be the voice of the prisoners sentenced to death from the December uprising.”
A new investigative report exposes the systematic repression inside Ward 37, Unit 3 of Qezel Hesar Prison in Iran, where detainees arrested during the January 2026 nationwide protests are being held.
Located adjacent to the notorious Ward 35 ("Secure Ward"), Ward 37 isolates…— IRAN HRM (@IranHrm) July 12, 2026
Scope of the Movement
The strike has achieved unprecedented scale, spanning 58 prisons across Iran, including Evin (both men’s and women’s wards), Ghezel Hesar, Greater Tehran, Karaj, Adelabad in Shiraz, Zahedan, Tabriz, Urmia, Sanandaj, and the newly joined Broujen Prison.
The continuous expansion of these hunger strikes highlights a highly organized network of resistance inside some of the regime’s most secure facilities, demonstrating the enduring spirit of the Iranian people.