On Tuesday, September 10, political prisoners across 21 prisons in Iran initiated a hunger strike as part of the ongoing “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign, now in its 33rd consecutive week. This protest, which has been steadily gaining momentum nationwide, seeks to raise awareness and opposition to the regime’s use of the death penalty, which has surged in recent months.
These prisons include:
- Evin Prison (Women’s Ward, Wards 4 and 6),
- Ghezel Hesar Prison (Units 3 and 4),
- Karaj Central Prison,
- Greater Tehran Prison,
- Khorramabad Prison,
- Shiraz Military Prison,
- Bam Prison,
- Esfahan’s Asadabad Prison,
- Mashhad Prison,
- Lakan Rasht Prison (Men’s and Women’s Wards),
- Qaem Shahr Prison,
- Ardabil Prison,
- Tabriz Prison,
- Urmia Prison,
- Khoy Prison,
- Naqadeh Prison,
- Salmas Prison,
- Saqqez Prison,
- Baneh Prison,
- Mariwan Prison, and
- Kamyaran Prison.
The prisoners’ joint statement condemned the regime’s recent crackdown, unjust arrests, and the intimidation tactics employed by prison officials, particularly in Urmia Prison, where the campaign’s participants have been threatened by Peyman Khanzadeh, the prison warden, and Nader Azarnia, head of security.
The prisoners reported that 29 individuals have already been executed since August 21, with multiple reports of detainees being tortured to death. The strikers emphasized that these abuses were highlighted in then-UN Special Rapporteur Javaid Rehman’s recent report, describing the regime’s actions as “barbaric crimes” that warrant global accountability.
In their statement, the striking prisoners reiterated their commitment to continue the campaign until the abolition of the death penalty and called on all prisoners across Iran to join the cause. They also urged the UN Special Rapporteur Mai Sato to visit Iranian prisons, particularly to investigate the conditions of political prisoners and those sentenced to death.
I have been the Special Rapporteur on #Iran 1 month. During August 2024, at least 93 individuals were executed. Based on information received, only a fraction is officially reported by the Islamic Republic of #Iran, highlighting the need for transparency. https://t.co/vVfWuexkMI
— Mai Sato (@drmaisato) September 3, 2024
This coordinated protest reflects the broader unrest within Iran, with ongoing demonstrations by various societal groups, including workers, nurses, retirees, and teachers, among others who call for justice and groundbreaking change. As international attention to the situation in Iranian prisons grows, the prisoners’ hunger strike serves as a powerful symbol of resistance against the regime’s repressive tactics and excessive use of the death penalty.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International has raised urgent concerns regarding the imminent risk of execution faced by Sharifeh Mohammadi, a human rights defender in Iran. Mohammadi, who was sentenced to death in June 2024 by a Revolutionary Court in Rasht, Gilan province, is being punished solely for her peaceful advocacy of women’s and workers’ rights, as well as her outspoken opposition to the death penalty. Her sentencing comes after a grossly unfair trial, during which her claims of torture and mistreatment were never investigated.
