On Tuesday, September 24, the 35th consecutive week of the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign began across 21 prisons in Iran, marking another wave of protests against the Iranian regime’s continued use of the death penalty. This movement, driven by political prisoners, aims to bring attention to the growing number of executions, particularly those connected to the 2022 nationwide protests.
Participating prisons include Evin, Ghezel Hesar, Tehran Central, and several others across cities like Karaj, Shiraz, Mashhad, and Tabriz. The prisoners have launched a coordinated hunger strike to raise awareness about the human rights abuses perpetrated by the regime. In their latest statement, they expressed solidarity with the victims of a recent mining disaster in Tabas, pointing to the incident as another example of the government’s systemic corruption and mismanagement.
The prisoners condemned the recent death sentences handed down to two political prisoners, Mehdi Hasani and Behrouz Ehsani, who were arrested during the 2022 protests. They also highlighted the cases of two other detainees, Mohammad Javad Vafaee Sani and Kurdish political prisoner Hatem Ozdemir, both of whom have been sentenced to death for their activism since 2019.
In a show of defiance, the striking prisoners have called upon international human rights organizations, political leaders, and the global public to hold the Iranian government accountable for its ongoing execution spree. They urged global leaders, especially those attending the United Nations, to confront the Iranian president regarding the regime’s record of executions.
Outside the prison walls, support for the campaign continues to grow. On September 21, 2024, a grieving mother stood at the grave of Mohsen Shekari, a protestor executed by the regime, holding a placard in support of “No to Executions Tuesdays.” She declared her solidarity with the campaign, stating that her own son had also been a victim of the regime’s oppressive measures. Her words echoed the pain of many Iranian families who have lost loved ones to state-sponsored executions, further underscoring the deep-rooted desire for justice.
The “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign continues to amplify the voices of political prisoners and their families, shedding light on Iran’s disturbing use of the death penalty as a means of silencing dissent. As the campaign enters its 35th week, it has become a powerful symbol of resistance against a regime accused of gross human rights violations. The international community is increasingly called upon to address the urgent situation inside Iran’s prisons, where many political detainees still face the threat of execution.
