Prisoners in Haviq-Talesh Prison have announced their participation in the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign. They declared their intention to join the weekly hunger strikes starting next Tuesday to protest the use of the death penalty.
With the participation of Haviq-Talesh Prison, the number of prisons involved in the campaign has reached 31. The prisoners have stated that they are standing in solidarity with their fellow detainees in 30 other prisons across Iran. Every Tuesday, they will go on a hunger strike to voice their opposition to the implementation of death sentences.
Haviq-Talesh Prison, also known as the Haviq Rehabilitation Camp, is located in the Aghajani Boulevard area near the Lisar-Haviq road, approximately 10 kilometers from Talesh city in Gilan Province.
Origins of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” Campaign
The campaign began in Qezel-Hesar Prison in Karaj, where a group of political prisoners in Ward 4 initiated the movement in response to a surge in executions. On January 28, 2024, these prisoners declared they would stage weekly hunger strikes every Tuesday to protest the regime’s execution spree.
This initiative is a direct objection to the death penalty, which the prisoners have condemned as an inhumane and irreversible punishment. Their call for abolition applies regardless of the charges, motivations, or beliefs of those sentenced to death.
The campaign was sparked by the execution of two political prisoners, Mohammad Ghobadlou and Farhad Salimi. In reaction, political prisoners in Qezel-Hesar began their first hunger strike and announced their intention to continue every Tuesday. Tuesdays were chosen because executions are typically carried out on this day, following the transfer of prisoners to solitary confinement on Mondays.
Growing Support and Resistance
Initially, political prisoners in Wards 4 and 8 of Evin Prison, the women’s ward at Evin, and the central prison in Karaj joined the campaign. The movement has since gained widespread support.
Each week, participating prisoners issue statements highlighting recent executions or death sentences. These statements advocate for the legal and social rights of prisoners while urging others to resist the “execution machinery” of the regime.
The “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign has become a central pillar of resistance within Iran’s prisons. It has garnered significant support from international human rights organizations, political figures, and advocacy groups around the world.
