63rd Week of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” Campaign Across 38 Prisons in Iran
On Tuesday, April 8, 2025, the 63rd campaign of “No to Execution Tuesdays” will be held in 38 prisons nationwide. On this day, prisoners who are part of this campaign will go on a hunger strike in protest against the wave of executions in Iran.
Iranian prisoners are holding their 63rd week of hunger strike against the death penalty, while Amnesty International has announced that 64% of the world’s recorded executions in the past 2024 were carried out by the Iranian regime.
In a statement for the 63rd week of the campaign, “No to Execution Tuesdays” wrote:
“The United Nations Human Rights Council, after its 58th session in Geneva, passed a resolution condemning the widespread violation of human rights in Iran and extended the mandates of the Special Rapporteur and the Independent Fact-Finding Mission for another year.”
Additionally, this same week, the European Parliament, by issuing a resolution, condemned the widespread wave of executions in Iran as well as the upholding of the death sentences for Mehdi Hasani and Behrouz Ehsani, and once again called for the release of all political and ideological prisoners, as well as for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to be designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union.
Full Text of the Statement by the “No to Execution Tuesdays” Campaign:
63rd Week of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” Campaign Across 38 Prisons in the Country
Rejection of Pakhshan Azizi’s Appeal and the Charge of “Baghi” Against Karim Khojasteh
With the end of the Nowruz holidays, during which the number of executions had relatively decreased, we are once again witnessing a sharp rise in the issuance and implementation of death sentences. In recent days, a large number of prisoners have been transferred to quarantine wards in preparation for execution. On Monday alone, at least 10 prisoners at Qezel Hesar Prison were moved to the “secure ward,” indicating the imminent implementation of their death sentences.
Amidst this intensifying repression, the United Nations Human Rights Council, after its 58th session in Geneva, passed a resolution condemning the widespread violation of human rights in Iran and extended the mandates of the Special Rapporteur and the Independent Fact-Finding Mission for another year.”
This resolution also expanded the scope of the Fact-Finding Mission beyond the 2022 uprising, to include other crimes committed by the regime and the collection of evidence for potential judicial prosecution of those responsible.
Additionally, this same week, the European Parliament, by issuing a resolution, condemned the widespread wave of executions in Iran as well as the upholding of the death sentences for Mehdi Hasani and Behrouz Ehsani, and once again called for the release of all political and ideological prisoners, as well as for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to be designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union.
Nevertheless, the Islamic Republic regime, disregarding both domestic and international protests and pressure, continues its policy of repression and the issuance of death sentences. For example, the appeal for retrial by Pakhshan Azizi, a Kurdish political prisoner, has been rejected for the second time by the Supreme Court, increasing the risk of her execution. Similarly, Karim Khojasteh, another political prisoner held in Lakan Prison in Rasht, has been charged with “Baghi” (armed rebellion against the state), which could lead to the issuance of a death sentence against him.
We, the members of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign, while expressing our deep concern over the increasing threat of execution against political and ideological prisoners, firmly condemn these sentences. We also warn against the rising trend of executions for prisoners convicted of non-political crimes. At the same time, while appreciating international support, we call on the international community to make any continued relations or transactions with the Islamic Republic conditional upon the complete abolition of the death penalty.
Prisons Participating in the Hunger Strike During the 63rd Week (Tuesday, April 8, 2025):
- Evin Prison (Women’s Ward, Ward 4 and 8)
- Ghezel Hesar (Units 3 and 4)
- Karaj, Greater Tehran, Khorin Varamin, Choobindar Qazvin, Arak, Khorramabad, Asadabad Isfahan, Dastgerd Isfahan, Sheiban Ahvaz, Sepidar Ahvaz (Women and Men), Nezam Shiraz, Adelabad Shiraz (Women and Men), Borazjan, Ramhormoz, Bam, Kahnouj, Tabas, Jowayin, Mashhad, Gonbad-e Kavus, Qaemshahr, Lakan Rasht (Women and Men), Rudsar, Haviq Talesh, Dizelabad Kermanshah, Ardabil, Tabriz, Urmia, Salmas, Khoy, Naqadeh, Miandoab, Saqqez, Baneh, Marivan, Kamyaran
“No to Execution Tuesdays” Campaign
April 8, 2025
