No To Executions Tuesdays Campaign

On Tuesday, 24th of September 2024, the 35th consecutive week of the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign unfolded in 21 prisons across Iran, continuing a growing protest against the regime’s use of the death penalty. Led by political prisoners, this movement aims to draw attention to the alarming rise in executions, particularly those tied to the nationwide protests in 2022. The participating prisons include Evin, Ghezel Hesar, Tehran Central, and others in cities such as Karaj, Shiraz, Mashhad, and Tabriz.

Reza (Gholamreza) Rasaei was arbitrarily executed in secret at 5am local time on the 6th of Aug 2024

 Prisoners have launched a coordinated hunger strike to highlight the human rights violations perpetrated by the government. In their most recent statement, they expressed solidarity with the victims of a recent mining disaster in Tabas, citing it as another example of systemic corruption and incompetence within the regime.

The prisoners also condemned the recent death sentences of two political prisoners, Mehdi Hasani and Behrouz Ehsani, who were detained during the 2022 protests. In addition, they drew attention to the cases of Mohammad Javad Vafaee Sani and Kurdish political activist Hatem Ozdemir, both sentenced to death for their activism since 2019.

In a bold act of resistance, the striking prisoners called on international human rights organizations, political leaders, and the global public to hold the Iranian government accountable for its ongoing execution campaign. They especially urged world leaders attending the United Nations to confront the Iranian president over the regime’s execution record.

Outside of prison, support for the campaign continues to grow. On September 21, 2024, a grieving mother stood at the grave of Mohsen Shekari, a protestor executed by the regime, holding a placard in support of “No to Executions Tuesdays.” She expressed her solidarity with the campaign, sharing her own pain as her son had also been a victim of the regime’s brutal actions. Her words resonated with countless Iranian families who have lost loved ones to state-sponsored executions, further emphasizing the profound demand for justice.

The “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign continues to elevate the voices of political prisoners and their families, shining a light on Iran’s disturbing reliance on the death penalty to stifle dissent. As the campaign marks its 35th week, it stands as a powerful symbol of resistance against a regime accused of severe human rights abuses. Increasingly, the international community is being called upon to address the urgent situation in Iran’s prisons, where many political detainees remain under the threat of execution.

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