21 September 2024 :
September 17, 2024 - IRAN. 34th Week of “No to Executions Tuesdays” Campaign Begins Across 21 Iranian Prisons
On Tuesday, September 17, 2024, the 34th consecutive week of the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign began in 21 prisons across Iran. This powerful movement, initiated by political prisoners, continues to grow as more prisons and inmates join the collective hunger strike to protest the Iranian regime’s widespread use of the death penalty.
Political prisoners in Evin, Ghezel Hesar, Tehran Central, and prisons in cities like Karaj, Shiraz, Mashhad, and Tabriz participate in this week’s strike. In a joint statement, the prisoners condemned the regime’s escalation of executions, particularly those carried out in the aftermath of the 2022 nationwide protests. The statement specifically commemorated the memory of Mohsen Shekari, Mohammad Mehdi Karami, Mohammad Hosseini, and Majidreza Rahnavard, among others, who were executed in connection with the protests.
The prisoners also expressed their solidarity with the families of the victims, emphasizing that their hunger strike is in remembrance of “all those who have been martyred during the 2022 protests.” They particularly called attention to the plight of the many detainees still at risk of execution. The prisoners warned that, since the inauguration of the current president, “more than 170 individuals have been executed,” and they raised alarms about the fate of those arrested during the protests who now face death sentences.
The striking prisoners further appealed to political activists, human rights defenders, and the general public, urging them to pay more attention to the dangerous situation faced by these detainees. “We call for increased awareness and action from political and human rights activists, media outlets, and the Iranian people to address the plight of these political prisoners,” the statement read.
In addition, the prisoners expressed their deep appreciation for the growing support from outside the prison walls. They acknowledged the backing of “100 former political prisoners and 150 civil activists,” who have publicly supported the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign. The prisoners urged others to join the cause, stating, “We again call on the public to support this campaign to end the death penalty.”
The campaign has steadily gained momentum over the past months, with each weekly hunger strike symbolizing a firm stance against the regime’s use of the death penalty as a tool of suppression. Despite facing harsh prison conditions, the prisoners remain defiant, drawing attention to what they describe as the regime’s “barbaric state of affairs” and ongoing executions. Their resistance has garnered international attention, with human rights organizations and activists around the world increasingly lending their voices to condemn Iran’s execution spree.
As the 34th week unfolds, the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign continues to stand as a testament to the resilience of Iran’s political prisoners in their fight for justice and human rights. Their call for an end to state-sponsored executions echoes far beyond the prison walls, demanding action both within Iran and from the international community.
