The 36th week of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign continues with the addition of Arak Prison in 22 different prisons
The “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign marked its 36th consecutive week on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, with Arak Prison joining 22 other prisons in support. The campaign continues to gather momentum. In this week’s statement, prisoners highlighted the government’s repeated failures and warned of a potential increase in executions. They wrote:
“Given the sensitive situation and the international crises the government is facing, when unable to resolve these issues externally, the government often turns inward, using executions as a means of retaliation. This escalation serves as both a response to international pressures and a domestic intimidation tactic under these circumstances.”
The statement further expressed concern over a possible rise in executions, noting that death row inmates are particularly vulnerable in times of political strain. The prisoners warned that they may bear the brunt of the government’s efforts to offset its regional and international setbacks, as well as its struggle to maintain domestic control.
- Political prisoner Soudabeh Fakharzadeh was sentenced to five years in prison following an unfair trial process.
- Sunni political prisoner Hamzeh Darwish received a 10.5-year sentence from the Revolutionary Court.
This statement by striking prisoners underscores the gravity of the current situation for those on death row and other political prisoners in Iran, as the campaign persists in its call to halt executions across the country.
Statement of the striking prisoners in the 36th week of the “Tuesdays No to Execution” campaign:
The 36th week of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign continues, now with Arak Prison joining 22 other prisons in solidarity. This week’s campaign commemorates the victims of the Bloody Friday massacre in Zahedan during the 2022 nationwide protests, when the regime brutally killed at least 120 worshippers and protesters at the Maki Mosque. The regime has consistently evaded accountability for these acts and continues to arrest and intimidate dissidents across the country, from Kurdistan to Tehran, Zahedan, and beyond.
The “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign condemns these ongoing crimes and stands firmly alongside the mothers and families of those seeking justice. Despite international scrutiny, the regime has executed more than 23 people in the first 10 days of October alone. On top of this, two individuals were publicly executed in the city of Khomein yesterday, while 20 others were executed at Shiraz Prison between September 14 and September 25. These executions, concealed from domestic media, reflect the escalating use of the death penalty as a tool of repression.
Executions, regardless of the charges, serve as a cornerstone of governmental control, where the regime’s reliance on capital punishment increases with mounting internal and international pressures. The statement underscores that as the government faces crises abroad, it increasingly resorts to executions to intimidate domestically and assert its power. The campaign warns that, given these pressures, the regime is likely to continue using executions as a form of retaliation and repression.
The “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign warns that in the coming weeks, there may be a significant increase in executions and death sentences as the regime attempts to mask its regional and international failures through domestic repression. We are deeply concerned for those on death row, as they remain vulnerable targets to compensate for the weaknesses and setbacks faced by the ruling religious regime.
We urge all independent and free-thinking human rights activists, both domestic and international, to raise their voices on behalf of death row prisoners to prevent these individuals from being executed in silence.
On Sunday, September 29, a group of political prisoners in Arak Prison announced through a statement that they would join the 36th week of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign by going on hunger strike. Going forward, these prisoners intend to participate in the campaign by striking every Tuesday. Consequently, this campaign will include a hunger strike on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, as Arak Prison joins 22 other prisons in unified protest.
The prisons participating in the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign now include:
- Evin Prison (Women’s Ward, Wards 4 and 8)
- Ghezel Hesar Prison (Units 3 and 4)
- Karaj Central Prison
- Greater Tehran Prison
- Khorramabad Prison
- Nizam Shiraz Prison
- Asadabad Prison in Isfahan
- Bam Prison
- Mashhad Prison
- Lakan Prison in Rasht
- Qaemshahr Prison
- Ardabil Prison
- Tabriz Prison
- Urmia Prison
- Salmas Prison
- Khoy Prison
- Naqadeh Prison
- Saqqez Prison
- Baneh Prison
- Marivan Prison
- Kamyaran Prison
- Arak Prison
On Tuesday, September 24, 2024, prisoners in 21 prisons across Iran continued their hunger strike as part of the 35th week of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign. In their statement, these prisoners referenced Pezeshkian’s visit to New York, and wrote:
“We urge representatives at the United Nations and human rights organizations to hold Iran’s head of state accountable for the relentless wave of killings and executions of prisoners. They questioned how Pezeshian, amid widespread election boycotts and lacking a clear mandate, could legitimately claim to represent the Iranian people.”
The prisoners’ statement also condemned the recent death sentences of four political prisoners—Mehdi Hassani, Behrouz Ehsani, Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani, and Hatem Ozdemir—as well as all death sentences issued, regardless of charges. The message echoed a collective plea:
“Help us defend the right to life for prisoners.”
The 35th week of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign continued in 21 prisons across the country, with prisoners calling on supporters to “Help us defend the right to life for prisoners.”
On Sunday, September 23, as the new school year began, tragedy struck in Tabas when a mine explosion claimed the lives of 52 miners and left several others injured. These miners, working in hazardous conditions without basic safety protections, risked their lives daily just to provide for their families. This incident highlights the structural inefficiencies and neglect of an authoritarian regime that profits from the hard labor of Iran’s working people yet refuses to be held accountable for its disastrous mismanagement.
The “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign activists extend their heartfelt condolences to the families of the miners and wish the injured a full recovery.
With the beginning of the school year, the campaign also remembers the more than one million children and adolescents who, due to widespread poverty, are forced to leave school and enter the workforce. Additionally, the campaign honors the memory of the students and teachers who lost their lives in the Jina uprising, a symbol of resistance and sacrifice.
As prisoners participating in this campaign, we have seen firsthand the countless non-political prisoners facing death sentences for drug-related and other charges. Many of these individuals are victims of deep-rooted poverty, having dropped out of school as children or teenagers and enduring various social harms throughout their lives. The Velayat-e Faqih regime has entrenched poverty in such a way that it subjects these individuals to harsh lives from a young age, only to then condemn them to death by hanging, cutting their already difficult lives short through an inhumane and unjust death penalty.
In the past week, the ruling religious dictatorship in Iran sentenced two political prisoners, Mehdi Hassani and Behrouz Ehsani—both detained during the 2022 protests—to death. These sentences were handed down behind closed doors, without fair trial rights, and based on fabricated charges. Additionally, two other political prisoners, Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani and Kurdish prisoner Hatem Ozdemir, who have been incarcerated since 2019, were each issued a second death sentence despite already being on death row.
These death sentences, which violate fundamental human rights standards, serve only to create an atmosphere of fear and terror within society, aiming to stifle any potential for renewed nationwide protests and suppress the people’s fundamental right to dissent.
The “No Execution Tuesdays” campaign calls upon all government representatives at the United Nations and human rights organizations to demand accountability from Iran’s head of state for this escalating wave of executions and state-sanctioned killings. The core question remains: How can Pezeshian, with widespread electoral boycotts and without securing a majority vote, claim to represent the people of Iran?
On Tuesday, September 24, 2024, the 35th week of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign took place in 21 prisons across Iran. Participating prisons included Evin Prison (Women’s Ward, Wards 4 and 8), Ghezel Hesar Prison (Units 3 and 4), Karaj Central Prison, Greater Tehran Prison, Khorramabad Prison, Nizam Prison of Shiraz, Asadabad Prison of Isfahan, Bam Prison, Mashhad Prison, Qaemshahr Prison, Lakan Prison of Rasht, Ardabil Prison, Tabriz Prison, Urmia Prison, Khoy Prison, Naqadeh Prison, Salmas Prison, Saqqez Prison, Baneh Prison, Marivan Prison, and Kamyaran Prison. In these facilities, prisoners staged a hunger strike in protest of the inhumane use of the death penalty.
The campaign raised urgent concerns about the execution of numerous political and non-political prisoners on death row. It condemned the recent death sentences issued to four political prisoners—Mehdi Hassani, Behrouz Ehsani, Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani, and Hatem Ozdemir—as well as all death sentences issued on any charge. The prisoners appealed to the public and human rights advocates, both domestic and international, to join the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign and defend the “right to life” for all prisoners, working toward the abolition of the death penalty.
- Death sentences issued for political prisoners Mehdi Hassani and Behrouz Ehsani.
- The Supreme Court upholds the death sentence of Hatem Ozdemir.
The 34th Week of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” Campaign
On Tuesday, September 17, 2024, the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign entered its 34th consecutive week, marked by continued hunger strikes across 21 prisons in Iran. This week’s actions commemorated those who were executed following the 2022 protests, with prisoners calling for an end to the death penalty and a halt to repression. They further demanded justice and accountability for the perpetrators and organizers behind years of state-led executions.
The campaign highlighted the grim milestone of over 170 executions since the rise of the current administration under the Velayat-e Faqih. Activists expressed deep concern for those detained in the aftermath of the 2022 “Jina” uprising, many of whom now face the looming threat of death sentences. The statement urged political and human rights activists, the media, and the Iranian public to intensify efforts to safeguard these individuals and to halt the regime’s machinery of execution and oppression.
Below is the full text of the statement of the 34th week of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign, titled “Commemorating the Leaders of the 2022 Protests.”
The 34th Week of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” Campaign – Commemorating the Victims of the 2022 Protests, Prisoners’ Hunger Strike in 21 Prisons
Commemorating the Leaders of the 2022 Protests: The 34th Week of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” Campaign
The “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign, now in its 34th week, held commemorative actions on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, in remembrance of those executed during the 2022 nationwide protests. This week’s campaign coincides with the second anniversary of the protests that erupted across Iran following the tragic death of Jina [Mahsa] Amini on September 15, 2022, at the hands of Iran’s repressive forces.
Political prisoners across 21 prisons joined a hunger strike in honor of the dozens of protesters who were executed in the wake of the 2022 demonstrations. These executions, aimed at intimidating the public, were carried out in clear violation of human rights standards and without fair trials. Among those commemorated were Mohsen Shekari, Mohammad Mehdi Karami, Mohammad Hosseini, Majid Reza Rahnavard, and most recently, Reza Rasai, who was also hanged in blatant disregard of basic human rights.
December 7: Execution of young protester Mohsen Shekari
The “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign, launched in February 2024 by political and public prisoners, seeks to abolish the death penalty, end repression, and bring justice to the perpetrators and masterminds behind all executions in recent years. Since its inception, the campaign has expanded to 21 prisons across the country.
On the 34th consecutive Tuesday of the campaign, prisoners not only staged a hunger strike against the inhumane use of the death penalty but also commemorated the victims of the 2022 nationwide protests. Special focus was given to the “Sarbadaran” of the uprising, honoring their sacrifice. The campaign expressed solidarity with all the families seeking justice for their loved ones.
Highlighting that over 170 executions have taken place since the current president of the Velayat-e Faqih came to power, activists warned of the dire situation facing detainees from the 2022 protests, many of whom are now at risk of death sentences. The campaign urged political and human rights activists, the media, and the Iranian public to intensify their efforts in raising awareness about the plight of these political prisoners from the “Jina” uprising and called for action to stop the regime’s execution machine and end the ongoing tyranny of Iran’s ruling religious dictatorship.
On Tuesday, September 18, 2024, prisoners participating in the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign continued their hunger strike for the 34th consecutive week, opposing the death penalty. This hunger strike is taking place in 21 different prisons across the country, including Evin Prison (Women’s Ward, Ward 4, and Ward 8), Ghezel Hesar Prison (Units 3 and 4), Greater Tehran Prison, Karaj Central Prison, Khorramabad Prison, Nizam Prison in Shiraz, Asadabad Prison in Isfahan, Bam Prison in Kerman, Mashhad Prison, Lakan Prison in Rasht, Qaemshahr Prison, Ardabil Prison, Tabriz Prison, Urmia Prison, Salmas Prison, Khoy Prison, Naqadeh Prison, Saqqez Prison, Baneh Prison, Marivan Prison, and Kamyaran Prison.
The activists of the campaign continue to raise their voices, emphasizing that at least 870 prisoners were executed in 2023 alone. They are calling for more prisoners across the country to join the “No to Execution Tuesdays” movement, with the goal of abolishing the death penalty and making this demand a cornerstone of society’s values.
The campaign is supported by over 100 former political prisoners and 150 civil and political activists, who urge human rights groups, political and trade unions, as well as free media, to prioritize the abolition of the death penalty in their activities. These groups are called upon to support the campaign and defend the fundamental “right to life” of all citizens. By doing so, they can help pave the way for a future where Iran is free, prosperous, and free from repression and executions—a future that can only be achieved through unity and collective action.
