The “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign marked its 45th week in 25 prisons across Iran on December 3. 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.
This week, six political prisoners involved in the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign were sentenced to death on charges of being members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).
A statement by the political prisoners involved in the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign reads, “On the eve of December 6 (Student Day in Iran), we congratulate all dear students, especially those who in recent years have been the focal point of uprisings and public protests against the despotic rule of the mullahs. These students bravely transformed universities into bastions of resistance, freedom, and equality. Many were arrested, and some sacrificed their lives for the ideals of the student movement and the Iranian people. We honor the memory of all the fallen, including students.
“As usual, the regime’s machinery of execution continues its relentless killing spree. Since last Tuesday, more than 28 individuals have been hanged in various prisons, including two juvenile offenders executed in Yazd and Ghezel Hesar prisons. Reports indicate that the total number of victims and executions since the beginning of 2024 has reached approximately 743. The recent intensification of these medieval practices prompted members of the ‘No to Execution Tuesdays’ campaign in Lakan Prison in Rasht—one of the key execution centers in recent months—to issue a protest statement earlier this week.
“A regime that has reached a deadlock in resolving economic crises and has triggered widespread protests across all societal sectors is attempting to instill fear in the populace through the enactment of a misogynistic Hijab and Chastity Law, alongside repression and executions.
“Continuing this repression, the regime’s judiciary recently sentenced a political prisoner in Urmia Prison, Mehrab Abdollahzadeh—arrested during the 2022 protests—to death. Additionally, it issued death sentences for six political prisoners in Evin Prison on charges of rebellion.
“The political prisoners named (Vahid Bani Amerian, Pouya Ghobadi, Babak Alipour, Ali Akbar Daneshvar, Abolhasan Montazer, and Mohammad Taghavi) are all members of the ‘No to Execution Tuesdays’ campaign.
A critical and tragic aspect of these political prisoners’ unjust trials is that Iman Afshari, head of Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court, issued ‘state-sanctioned murder’ orders based solely on the ‘judge’s discretion.’
“Over the years, the ‘judge’s discretion’ has been a tool for the judiciary of the ‘Islamic Republic’ to issue death sentences in numerous cases. This approach, coupled with months of torture, solitary confinement, and interrogations, has exposed the disgraceful nature of such fabrications when death sentences are based solely on this method.
“These death sentences come only weeks after six political prisoners, known as the ‘Ekbatan Kids,’ were also sentenced to death.
“However, these rulings and brutal repressions will not go unanswered. As demonstrated in the past, the courageous men and women of Iran will not be intimidated and will act with greater determination for freedom and liberation.
“The ‘No to Execution Tuesdays’ campaign, established to oppose the inhumane death penalty regardless of charges, believes that depriving individuals of their right to life is a violation of human dignity. It calls for the abolition of the death penalty and an end to violence and repression in Iran.
“Thus, the campaign urges all human rights organizations and bodies to take immediate and effective action to save the lives of prisoners and secure the release of all political detainees. Those responsible for and ordering these crimes must be brought to justice and held accountable.
“We also express gratitude to the brave men and women who, under the shadow of oppression in Tehran, hold protests against executions; to all workers, retirees, teachers, and nurses who chant against the death penalty in their gatherings; and to the students who support the campaign. We believe such movements must become broader and more consistent to compel the regime to yield. We continue to emphasize practical, collective, and united action against executions.
“Members of the ‘No to Execution Tuesdays’ campaign will go on hunger strike on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, during the 45th week of the campaign, across 25 different prisons.”
The 25 prisons participating in the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign on November 26, 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.