The 36th consecutive week of the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign has commenced across 22 prisons in Iran, with political prisoners once again taking a stand against the regime’s relentless execution spree. This week, the prison in Arak joined the campaign, expanding the number of participating facilities as prisoners continue their hunger strike in protest of the rising death toll in the country’s prisons.
In their latest statement, the political prisoners participating in the campaign commemorated the victims of the “Bloody Friday” massacre in Zahedan, where at least 120 protestors and worshippers were killed during the 2022 nationwide protests. “We honor the memory of those who perished in Zahedan and strongly condemn this crime. We stand alongside the grieving mothers and families of these victims, continuing our resistance,” the statement read.
The prisoners’ hunger strike comes in response to the Iranian regime’s increasing use of executions as a tool of repression. According to their statement, “The execution machine is continually pushing the boundaries of crime and death. In the last ten days alone, over 23 people have been executed, and on Monday, two more were hanged in public in the city of Khomeyn in a barbaric, medieval practice.”
The prisoners also highlighted that 20 individuals were executed in Shiraz’s prison in the span of just 10 days in late September, a fact that remains unreported by state-controlled media. “Executions, regardless of the charges, serve one ultimate purpose: the suppression of dissent and the perpetuation of terror,” the statement continued.
35th Week of “No to Executions Tuesdays” Campaign Begins in 21 #Iranian Prisonshttps://t.co/FckJKpfKSE
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) September 24, 2024
Reflecting on the international pressures the regime faces, the prisoners warned of the likelihood of increased executions in the coming weeks. “Given the regime’s inability to solve the international crises it is entangled in, the most readily available tool for retaliation is the noose—targeting prisoners under death sentences as a means of revenge for its failures.” They expressed grave concern for those currently awaiting execution, stating, “These individuals are the first to be sacrificed to cover up the regime’s regional and international defeats.”
The prisoners called on the international community and human rights organizations to take urgent action. “We urge all independent human rights activists, both inside and outside of Iran, to be the voice for those condemned to death. Do not allow them to be executed in silence.”
The “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign has garnered widespread attention, reflecting the growing defiance among political prisoners across the nation. From Evin Prison in Tehran to Ghezel Hesar, Mashhad, and beyond, 22 prisons now participate in this weekly act of protest. As the campaign continues to gather momentum, the regime faces an ever-mounting challenge from those it seeks to silence.
The prisoners’ courageous stance serves as an inspiration to many, amplifying the call for justice and accountability. “The regime may raise more gallows, but we will continue to resist. Our defiance is our greatest weapon,” their statement declared. The spirit of resistance inside Iran’s prisons remains unbroken, even as the regime continues its attempts to crush any form of dissent.
As this hunger strike continues into its 36th week, the voices of those imprisoned serve as a powerful reminder that, despite the regime’s brutal tactics, the desire for justice and freedom will not be extinguished.
