Simultaneously with Human Rights Day, prisoners across Iran held the 46th week of the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign. The “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign is a coordinated protest movement initiated by political prisoners across Iran to oppose the regime’s extensive use of the death penalty. Since it began in early 2024, the campaign has involved weekly hunger strikes and statements condemning executions, aiming to raise awareness and mobilize both national and international support against capital punishment in Iran.
Today, Tuesday, December 10, 2024, the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign began its 46th week with a hunger strike by prisoners in 25 prisons.
The 25 prisons participating in the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign on December 10, were: Evin (women’s ward, wards 4 and 8), Ghezel Hesar (units 3 and 4), Karaj Central Prison, Greater Tehran Prison, Arak Prison, Khorramabad Prison, Asadabad Prison in Isfahan, Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz, Nezam Prison in Shiraz, Bam Prison, Kahnuj Prison, Mashhad Prison, Qaemshahr Prison, Lakan Prison in Rasht Prison (men’s and women’s wards), Ardabil Prison, Tabriz Prison, Urmia Prison, Salmas Prison, Khoy Prison, Naqadeh Prison, Saqqez Prison, Baneh Prison, Marivan Prison, and Kamyaran Prison.
The hunger-striking prisoners stated in their declaration: “Seventy-six years after the declaration of Human Rights Day, we still witness blatant violations of human rights worldwide, especially in Iran.
“Over 100,000 people have been executed during the 45-year history of this regime. In just the past 20 days, 75 people have been executed, and in less than nine months of 2024, 770 people have been hanged.”
The statement further added: “What has shocked the world today about Syria’s infamous prisons, including Saydnaya Prison, serves as a warning to all awakened consciences and human rights organizations to hold the perpetrators of such crimes accountable. Syria’s prisons are a warning to hold accountable those who, above ground, hang people; underground, bury them alive; or kill using pressing machines and dozens of other methods of torture and execution, continuing their massacres and crimes under the pretext of ‘legal executions,’ without ever being held to account.”
The “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign, congratulating the free people of Syria and the resilient prisoners who have now been released after years of torture, declared:
“What has been seen in Syria marks a turning point for greater attention by human rights activists, freedom fighters, and humanitarian advocates in opposing death sentences.”
As prisoners continue their campaign across Iran, the regime continues to execute prisoners at an alarming rate.
Since Masoud Pezeshkian became the regime’s president in July, the regime has executed more than 560 people, including 20 women.
On Wednesday, December 4, regime authorities hanged a man in Zahedan. On Tuesday, December 3, two people were executed in Rasht. On Monday, December 2, the regime hanged four prisoners in Ilam, including two women. On Sunday, December 1, the regime carried out six executions in Isfahan, Gorgan, Shiraz, Zahedan, and Ghezel Hesar.