The 34th week of the “Tuesdays Against Execution” campaign continued today, with prisoners in 21 prisons across Iran engaging in a hunger strike. The protest honors the memory of those executed in the aftermath of the 2022 nationwide protests and demands the abolition of the death penalty in Iran. In addition to commemorating the victims, the prisoners and activists behind the movement are calling for justice and accountability from those responsible for the widespread executions in recent years.
The organizers of this ongoing campaign highlight that since Masoud Pezeshkian took office as President, more than 150 executions have taken place. They have expressed grave concern for the detainees arrested during the 2022 protests, many of whom now face imminent death sentences. They call on human rights defenders, media outlets, and the international community to urgently focus on these political prisoners and work to halt the systematic execution practices carried out under Iran’s current regime.
Hunger Strike Spreads Across 21 Prisons
The hunger strike, which coincides with the second anniversary of the protests following the death of Jina (Mahsa) Amini, is part of a broader movement to challenge the oppressive practices of the Iranian regime. On September 17, 2024, political prisoners in facilities such as Evin Prison, Qezel Hesar Prison, Tehran’s Central Prison, and numerous others across the country, took part in the strike. Their aim is to draw attention to the growing number of death sentences, particularly among those who participated in the protests of 2022.
The campaign is named in memory of figures like Mohsen Shekari, Mohammad Mehdi Karami, Mohammad Hosseini, Majidreza Rahnavard, and Reza Rasaei, all of whom were executed without fair trials. These names are symbolic of a larger group of protesters who were unjustly executed, many without due process, violating basic human rights principles. Prisoners in 21 facilities across Iran participated in this week’s hunger strike, demanding an end to capital punishment and remembrance for the executed protesters.
Calls for International Attention and Action
Human rights activists and supporters of the campaign are urging more global attention to the increasing rate of executions in Iran. They emphasize that the victims of these executions are not limited to individuals convicted of ordinary crimes but also include political prisoners and protesters. As the hunger strike progresses, organizers are calling on international human rights organizations, political leaders, and civil society groups to intervene and help bring an end to this brutal practice.
Since the beginning of the ” Tuesdays Against Execution” campaign in February 2024, it has expanded to include prisoners in 21 different prisons across Iran. This movement reflects a broad coalition of both political and general prisoners who are united in their opposition to the death penalty. Despite the Iranian government’s attempts to suppress these protests, the campaign has garnered the support of over 100 former political prisoners and 150 civil and political activists.
The hunger strikers continue to advocate for the abolition of the death penalty and hold Iranian officials accountable for the extrajudicial executions that have taken place under their watch. The campaigners demand an end to the regime’s use of capital punishment as a tool of oppression and fear and call for a free and just Iran, where the right to life is respected, and the cycle of state-sponsored violence is broken.
Participation Grows Across the Country
Today’s hunger strike saw participation from prisoners in Evin Prison (including the women’s ward and wards 4 and 8), Qezel Hesar Prison (units 3 and 4), the Great Tehran Penitentiary, Karaj Central Prison, and others, marking a continued spread of the movement. These prisoners, despite their own harsh conditions, have become central figures in the push against the death penalty, urging others across the country to join the campaign.
The campaign’s advocates, both inside and outside the prisons, continue to call on international human rights organizations, political bodies, and free media to elevate the issue of executions in Iran to the forefront of global discussions. They believe that with united action, there can be a future without executions and repression in Iran—one where justice and freedom prevail.
The 34th week of “Tuesdays Against Execution” is a reminder of the ongoing struggle against human rights abuses in Iran and the enduring fight for justice for those who have been wrongfully executed.
