On Tuesday, January 29, Iranians inside the country and across the globe commemorated the start of the second year of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign in Iran’s prisons. In a speech, PMOI member Houri Saeedi said, “We stand with the prisoners who launched the ‘No to Execution Tuesdays’ campaign from Ghezel Hesar Prison exactly one year ago.”
She also highlighted the national solidarity of Iranians and the global campaign to halt the execution of political prisoners Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani, emphasizing: “I would like to take this opportunity to express the gratitude and appreciation of the PMOI to all groups, personalities, and compatriots who joined this national campaign against executions in support of our imprisoned brothers and sisters. It is at critical moments like these… that the unity and solidarity of Iranians rise and attract global attention. Once again, within just 24 hours, we witnessed the support of hundreds of international political figures.”
Regarding the transfer of Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani from Evin Prison to Ghezel Hesar, the striking prisoners participating in the “No To Executions Tuesdays” campaign issued a statement in the 53rd week of their hunger strike, declaring:
“On the anniversary of this campaign, we continue our hunger strike while on Sunday, January 27, two political prisoners and active members of the ‘No to Execution Tuesdays’ campaign, Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani, who have been sentenced to death, were violently abducted from Evin Prison and transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison. According to their lawyers, on Monday, January 28, a request for a retrial was officially filed in their case. However, based on information obtained by the campaign, these two political prisoners are currently held in the high-security Unit 3 of Ghezel Hesar, a ward designated for prisoners awaiting execution, placing them at imminent risk of execution.”
Amnesty International, in its urgent action statement, announced: “On 26 January 2025, without prior notice to them or their lawyers and families, they were transferred from Evin prison to Ghezel Hesar prison, Alborz province, where authorities move prisoners for execution. The authorities have given no information to their families and lawyers since the transfer, raising serious concerns that they plan to execute them imminently… Since February 2024, Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani have been on hunger strike every Tuesday as part of the ‘No to Execution Tuesdays’ campaign by Iranians, including prisoners held for political reasons… They were tried jointly in a five-minute trial session on 10 August 2024 in grossly unfair proceedings before Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran.”
The “No to Execution” campaign has gained widespread international support over the past year.
Among the supporters, more than 250 members of the UK’s House of Commons and House of Lords have issued a statement backing the global “No to Execution” campaign in Iran.
Additionally, 580 mayors across France have signed an appeal calling for an end to executions in Iran, stating: “Every execution carried out under this regime is inherently political. We support Maryam Rajavi’s call to end executions in Iran and her firm commitment to abolishing the death penalty, as outlined in her 10-point plan.”
The striking prisoners in the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign, after a year of successful activism, have declared their determination to continue the movement: “We, political and non-political prisoners across 34 prisons throughout Iran, while in chains, will begin the second year of the ‘No to Execution’ campaign on Tuesday, January 29, with even greater enthusiasm. On the 53rd ‘No to Execution Tuesday,’ we will go on hunger strike. May our voices, from behind these thick prison walls, unite with the voices of Iran’s women, men, and youth, so that we may play our part in defending human rights and removing the noose from our nation.”