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Iran Protests: 66th Week of “No to Executions Tuesdays” Campaign Sees Hunger Strikes in 41 Prisons

Written by Amir Taghati
Sanandaj Prison in Kurdistan, western Iran
Sanandaj Prison in Kurdistan, western Iran

In the 66th consecutive week of the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign, political prisoners across 41 prisons in Iran launched coordinated hunger strikes, denouncing the country’s alarming surge in executions and judicial oppression.

In a joint statement, the striking inmates extended condolences to victims of the recent deadly explosion at Rajaei Port in Bandar Abbas, calling it a “catastrophe with human and economic dimensions.” The prisoners squarely blamed Iran’s rulers and the IRGC, accusing them of warmongering and recklessness in pursuit of nuclear and missile ambitions.

The statement, issued ahead of International Workers’ Day and Teachers’ Day, also expressed solidarity with workers and educators across the country who have long faced repression.

The prisoners concluded by urging public support for the campaign and emphasized the need for the abolition of the death penalty, calling the executions “medieval” and a tool of state intimidation.

Prisons participating in the hunger strike include Evin, Ghezel Hesar, Karaj Central, Greater Tehran, Zahedan, and dozens more across the country, demonstrating the widespread resistance to Iran’s execution policies from within its prison walls.

A translated version of the campaign’s statement follows:

In the 66th week of the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign, hunger-striking prisoners wrote in part of their statement:

A Massive Explosion in Rajaei Port, Bandar Abbas: A Human and Economic Catastrophe

“The 66th week of the ‘No to Executions Tuesdays’ campaign coincides with the heartbreaking news of the deaths of dozens and injuries to over a thousand people following the horrific explosion in Bandar Abbas. We extend our condolences to the families of all the victims. The Iranian people know well that the primary culprits behind this disaster—whose full human and economic toll is still unknown—are the oppressive rulers and the terrorist force of the IRGC, who are constantly engaged in missile and nuclear weapons production and war-mongering.”

“On the eve of International Workers’ Day and National Teachers’ Day, the members of the ‘No to Executions Tuesdays’ campaign offer their congratulations to all people of Iran—especially workers, laborers, and active and retired teachers. For years, these segments of society have suffered repression and discrimination in their pursuit of basic rights, and many have been imprisoned or even executed by this oppressive regime.”

“We take this opportunity to commend all workers, teachers, retirees, artists, writers, and poets who have recently stood up in various ways against executions. We hope that ‘No to Executions’ will become a universal demand and once again echo loudly in future gatherings.”

Executions and Judicial Abuses:

The recent wave of executions, especially of political prisoners, has deeply alarmed us. In the current Iranian month alone, 35 individuals have been executed, including a woman and two political prisoners. Among them were Rostam Zeynaldin from Zahedan and Hamid Hosseinnejad Heydaranlou, both hanged with brutal cruelty. The body of Mr. Heydaranlou was not even returned to his family—a stark violation of human dignity and human rights, exposing the regime’s fear of popular uprising.

Last Wednesday, the Supreme Court again rejected retrial requests for two political prisoners on death row, Mehdi Hassani and Behrooz Ehsani, placing them at imminent risk of execution.

Additionally, Mohsen Langarneshin, a prisoner convicted of espionage, has reportedly been transferred to solitary confinement, raising fears that his execution may also be imminent.

Thousands of prisoners across Iran currently face death sentences, and at any moment their verdicts could be carried out. In protest against these medieval punishments, a group of prisoners at Sanandaj Prison declared they would join the ‘No to Executions Tuesdays’ campaign and begin a hunger strike on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.

On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, prisoners in the following 41 prisons will be on hunger strike in solidarity with the 66th week of the campaign:

  • Evin Prison (Women’s Ward, Wards 4 and 8)

  • Ghezel Hesar Prison (Units 3 and 4)

  • Karaj Central Prison

  • Greater Tehran Penitentiary

  • Khurin Prison (Varamin)

  • Choobindar Prison (Qazvin)

  • Arak Prison

  • Khorramabad Prison

  • Asadabad Prison (Isfahan)

  • Dastgerd Prison (Isfahan)

  • Sheiban Prison (Ahvaz)

  • Sepidar Prison (Ahvaz, Men’s and Women’s Wards)

  • Shiraz Military Prison

  • Adel Abad Prison (Shiraz, Men’s and Women’s Wards)

  • Zahedan Prison (Women’s Ward)

  • Borazjan Prison

  • Ramhormoz Prison

  • Behbahan Prison

  • Bam Prison

  • Kahnouj Prison

  • Tabas Prison

  • Mashhad Prison

  • Gonbad-e Kavus Prison

  • Qaemshahr Prison

  • Rasht Prison (Men’s and Women’s Wards)

  • Rudsar Prison

  • Haviq Prison (Talesh)

  • Azbaram Prison (Lahijan)

  • Dizel Abad Prison (Kermanshah)

  • Ardabil Prison

  • Tabriz Prison

  • Urmia Prison

  • Salmas Prison

  • Khoy Prison

  • Naqadeh Prison

  • Miandoab Prison

  • Saqqez Prison

  • Baneh Prison

  • Marivan Prison

  • Kamyaran Prison

  • Sanandaj Prison

Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Week 66

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