On Tuesday, December 23, 2025, the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign reached a significant milestone, marking its 100th consecutive week of hunger strikes and protests within Iran’s prison system. What began as a localized strike in Ghezel Hesar Prison has expanded into a nationwide movement involving prisoners in 55 detention centers across the country.
This week’s strike coincided with Yalda Night, an ancient Persian festival celebrated on the longest night of the year. Despite the occasion, participating prisoners prioritized their protest, issuing a statement that described the milestone as “one hundred weeks of relentless battle with the killing machine and the noose.” The campaign also announced a new expansion, with the Women’s Ward of Yazd Prison officially joining the strike this week.
Unprecedented surge in executions
In their 100th-week statement, the prisoners provided alarming statistics regarding the state’s use of capital punishment. According to the campaign, the Iranian regime has executed over 2,000 individuals in 2025 alone. This figure represents more than double the number of executions recorded in 2024. The statement noted that in the Persian month of Azar (November 21 to December 20, 2025), the number of executions reached 357.
The prisoners’ statement links this surge in violence to the regime’s internal instability. “This wave of killing and execution of prisoners indicates the extremely critical situation of a government caught in a vortex of incurable political, social, and economic crises,” the statement read. The prisoners argued that the regime, based on a “completely wrong assessment of Iranian society,” has resorted to mass executions to “prevent impending protests” and intimidate the public.
Solidarity beyond prison walls
The 100th week of the campaign was met with widespread support outside the prison walls. Reports indicate that solidarity activities and protests took place in nearly 100 cities across Iran, including Tehran, Isfahan, Mashhad, Shiraz, Tabriz, Rasht, and Ahvaz.
Videos recorded by citizens were released, showing protests and the chanting of slogans in support of the striking prisoners. Common slogans reported during these gatherings included “100 weeks of hunger strikes, 100 weeks of resistance,” “No to the execution of political prisoners,” and “Execution is the dictator’s tool of repression.”
In the city of Dorud, supporters placed flowers in public spaces with notes honoring the campaign. These tributes specifically commemorated the 100th week and paid respects to executed political prisoners, including Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani. One note read: “In the 100th week of the campaign… resistant prisoners showed that the dark nights of the homeland are ending with their standing.”
A battle for the right to life
The striking prisoners emphasized that their movement aims to challenge the “machinery of death” and break the silence surrounding the regime’s use of capital punishment. They declared their intent to continue the weekly strikes until the death penalty is abolished. “One hundred weeks of standing against dictatorship that tries to silence every voice of protest with executions and death squads… this campaign will continue without stopping,” the statement affirmed.
The prisoners participating in the 100th week of the strike are currently held in 55 different facilities, including:
Evin Prison (Women’s and Men’s wards), Ghezel Hesar Prison (Units 2, 3, and 4), Karaj Central Prison, Fardis Prison in Karaj, Greater Tehran Prison, Qarchak Prison, Khorin Prison in Varamin, Chobindar Prison in Qazvin, Ahar Prison, Arak Prison, Langerud Prison in Qom, Khorramabad Prison, Borujerd Prison, Yasuj Prison, Asadabad Prison in Isfahan, Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz, Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz (Women’s and Men’s wards), Nezam Prison in Shiraz, Adelabad Prison in Shiraz (Women’s and Men’s wards), Firuzabad Prison in Fars, Dehdasht Prison, Zahedan Prison (Women’s and Men’s wards), Borazjan Prison, Ramhormoz Prison, Behbahan Prison, Bam Prison, Yazd Prison (Women’s and Men’s wards), Kahnuj Prison, Tabas Prison, Birjand Central Prison, Mashhad Prison, Sabzevar Prison, Gonbad-e Kavus Prison, Qaemshahr Prison, Rasht Prison (Men’s and Women’s wards), Rudsar Prison, Haviq Prison in Talesh, Ozbaram Prison in Lahijan, Dizel Abad Prison in Kermanshah, Ardabil Prison, Tabriz Prison, Urmia Prison, Salmas Prison, Khoy Prison, Naqadeh Prison, Miandoab Prison, Mahabad Prison, Bukan Prison, Saqqez Prison, Baneh Prison, Marivan Prison, Sanandaj Prison, Kamyaran Prison, and Ilam Prison.