In recent months, Iranian authorities have intensified the execution of prisoners, prompting protests within the country’s prisons. Political prisoners in Unit 4 of Qezel Hesar Prison began a weekly hunger strike on January 28, 2024, to oppose the escalating use of the death penalty. These protests have drawn international attention, culminating in the U.S. government imposing sanctions on Qezel Hesar Prison for gross human rights violations.
On December 19, 2024, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the designation of Qezel Hesar Prison under Section 106 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). Secretary Blinken described the prison as a site of “cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment and punishment” against individuals exercising their right to freedom of expression. He emphasized that political prisoners in the facility have endured severe beatings while engaging in peaceful hunger strikes against the death penalty.
“No to Executions” Campaign Gains Momentum
The hunger strike in Qezel Hesar Prison, dubbed the “No to Executions Tuesday Campaign,” began after the execution of two political prisoners, Mohammad Ghobadlou and Farhad Salimi. In protest, Unit 4 prisoners declared that they would fast every Tuesday to demand the abolition of the death penalty. They chose Tuesday because the prison authorities traditionally transfer inmates to solitary confinement on Mondays and carry out executions on Tuesdays.
Initially confined to Qezel Hesar, the movement has since spread to 27 prisons across Iran, including Evin Prison, Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj, and the Central Prison in Karaj. Despite facing intense pressure from authorities, political prisoners and their supporters remain steadfast in their call for the abolition of capital punishment, which they describe as an irreversible and inhumane penalty.
Qezel Hesar Prison Sanctioned
The U.S. Department of State’s decision to sanction Qezel Hesar follows similar measures targeting other notorious Iranian prisons, including Evin, Qarchak Varamin, Rajai Shahr, and Adelabad in Shiraz. These sanctions highlight the international community’s increasing scrutiny of Iran’s treatment of political prisoners and the widespread use of the death penalty.
The “No to Executions Tuesday Campaign” reflects a growing resistance to what activists describe as a “killing machine” within the Iranian judicial system. Supporters of the movement argue that the sanctions on Qezel Hesar are a direct result of the determination of political prisoners to amplify their voices despite severe repression.
A Call for Global Solidarity
The campaign against executions and the hunger strikes in Iranian prisons underscore the urgent need for international attention to human rights violations in Iran. Advocacy groups and human rights organizations are calling for continued global pressure on Iranian authorities to abolish the death penalty and uphold the basic rights of all individuals.
The “No to Executions Tuesday Campaign”, serve as a powerful reminder of the resilience of those fighting for justice under harsh conditions. As their movement grows, so does the international awareness of the plight of prisoners in Iran.
