The “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign, led by striking prisoners in Evin Prison (Wards 4, 6, and 8), Ghezel Hesar Prison (Units 3 and 4), Tabriz Prison (Women’s Ward), Karaj Central Prison, Khorramabad Prison, Khoy Prison, Naqadeh Prison, Saqqez Prison, and Mashhad Prison, entered its 23rd week of hunger strikes. This week, political prisoners in Tabriz Prison also joined the campaign against the death penalty.
On Tuesday, July 2, 2024, prisoners in Iranian prisons continued their hunger strike as part of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign. With the government’s failure to legitimize the elections, the regime’s repressive apparatus is expected to tighten its grip in anticipation of potential uprisings. This increase in suppression, including the rise in executions, is a real concern. The inhumane “Baghi” charges against at least 15 political prisoners in the past week serve as further evidence of this escalating repression.
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The full text of the statement is as follows:
The widespread and decisive boycott of the government elections by the Iranian people was a powerful blow to the ruling tyranny. Despite all efforts from the regime’s various factions — from the reformists to the fundamentalists — the informed people of Iran refused to be drawn to the ballot boxes. In doing so, they stood in solidarity with political prisoners, justice-seeking families, teachers, workers, women, and other oppressed groups within the People’s Front.
Undoubtedly, the failure to legitimize the elections, combined with the crisis of the regime’s legitimacy, has forced the government into further contraction. In response to the growing risk of uprisings, the regime is likely to intensify repression, and the number of executions may rise as a result. The inhumane “Baghi” sentences handed down to at least 15 political prisoners in the past week serve as clear evidence of this escalating oppression.
The “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign has entered its 23rd week. Over the past week, the Islamic Republic’s authorities have filed charges against eight political prisoners, including Nasim Gholami Simyari, Hamidreza Sahlabadi, Ehsan Roazjian, Amin Sokhnoor, Ali Harati Mokhtari, Hossein Mohammad Hosseini, Hossein Ardestani, and Amir Shah Velayati. Additionally, in another case, seven political prisoners—Vahid Bani-Amerian, Pouya Ghobadi, Mohammad Taghavi, Mojtaba Taghavi, Babak Alipour, Abolhassan Montazer, and Asghar Daneshfar—have been indicted on charges of “Baghi,” a charge that carries the risk of a medieval death sentence for these citizens and political prisoners.
In the 23rd week of their hunger strike, a number of political prisoners in Tabriz Prison (Wards 3 and 4) joined the “No Executions Tuesdays” campaign against the death penalty. This marks the continued participation of political prisoners from various prisons, including Evin Prison (Wards 8, 6, and 4), Ghezel Hesar Prison (Units 3 and 4), Tabriz Prison (Women’s Ward), Karaj Central Prison, Khorramabad Prison, Khoy Prison, Naqadeh Prison, Saqqez Prison, and Mashhad Prison.
According to reports, political prisoners Armita Pavir and Maryam Bayramian from Tabriz Prison issued a statement declaring their support for the campaign. With their inclusion, political prisoners from nine prisons across the country are now participating in the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign. On Tuesday, July 2, 2024, these prisoners went on hunger strike, protesting the inhumane issuance and execution of death sentences by the Islamic Republic and its judicial and security apparatus.
