Prisoners across Iran held the 50th week of the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign on January 7, 2024. 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. It has now expanded to 30 prisons across the country, with Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz and Ramhormoz Prison joining the campaign this week.
In their weekly statement, the participants in the “No To Executions Tuesdays” campaign warned that while holidays are an opportunity for mercy and forgiveness, Iran’s regime has been ramping up executions.
“In Iran under the rule of religious autocrats, it seems as though we are living in a parallel world where traditions and values have been trampled, and anti-values have become the new norm,” the statement reads. “For instance, on January 1, coinciding with the New Year celebrations, this regime executed 21 Iranian citizens, bringing the total number of executions since the beginning of the month to over 80. The execution of 1,000 individuals in 2024 marks another grim record for this regime’s atrocities.”
The campaign also declared that 128 nations have already banned the death. “However, in occupied Iran, the escalation of executions, oppression, and torture continues unabated,” they write.
The statement continues: “The free and resilient people of Iran have consistently proven that they will never be intimidated and will defend their human rights and legitimate demands, even at the cost of their lives. In response to the regime’s policy of instilling fear through oppression and executions to suppress public uprisings, the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign continues to grow.”
In recent days, several prisoners in Sepidar Prison of Ahvaz and Ramhormoz Prison have announced their decision to join this campaign and go on hunger strike to protest death sentences.
The campaign also commemorated the victims of Flight PS752, a civilian aircraft that was shot down by the IRGC on January 8, 2020, resulting in the death of all 176 passengers.
“Thankfully, today we witness the solidarity of all justice-seekers with the families of the victims of this tragedy. This unity is invaluable and should extend to include the families of those executed, including prisoners sentenced for social and public offenses,” the statement reads. “We express our condolences to the families of all those who have lost their lives in the pursuit of freedom and equality, honor the memory of the victims of the Ukrainian plane crash, and emphasize the need for justice-seekers and victims of the regime’s crimes to oppose the death penalty and support the ‘No to Executions Tuesdays’ campaign.”
The statement continues: “We extend our gratitude to all domestic and international activists from various fields who have supported the campaign. Once again, we urge all the dear people of Iran and the world to strive for institutionalizing the legitimate demand of ‘No to Executions’ in society, resist this inhumane sentence, and remain confident that victory is within reach and possible.”
The “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign has expanded to 30 different prisons with the addition of Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz and Ramhormoz Prison. In its fiftieth week, campaign members are on hunger strike in the following prisons: Evin Prison (women’s ward, wards 4 and 8), Ghezel Hesar Prison (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, Kamyaran Prison, Tabas Prison, Khorin Prison in Varamin, Rudsar Prison in Gilan, Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz, and Ramhormoz Prison.