“No Execution Tuesdays” Campaign Condemns Iran’s Escalating Execution Crisis

The “No Execution Tuesdays” campaign has issued a sobering statement marking the 45th week of its hunger strike, shedding light on the alarming rise in executions by the Iranian regime. As of December 3, the campaign reports that over 28 individuals, including two child offenders, have been executed in the past week alone in various prisons across Iran, such as Yazd and Ghezel Hesar.

A Grim Milestone in 1403

According to data compiled by the campaign, the number of executions in Iran since the beginning of the Persian year 1403 (March 2024) has reached an estimated 743. This escalation has drawn attention to certain facilities like Lakan Prison in Rasht, which has become a hub for executions in recent months. In response, the campaign released a strongly worded protest statement condemning these actions and highlighting the regime’s systematic use of capital punishment as a tool of repression.

Death Sentences for Political Prisoners

The statement also reveals the recent sentencing of several political prisoners to death. Mehrab Abdollahzadeh, detained during the 2022 protests, has been sentenced to execution in Urmia Prison. Additionally, six political prisoners in Evin Prison—Abolhassan Montazer, Pouya Ghobadi, Vahid Bani-Amrian, Babak Alipour, Ali Akbar Daneshvarkar, and Mohammad Taghavi—face death sentences on charges of rebellion against the regime. Notably, all six are active members of the “No Execution Tuesdays” campaign.

The campaign criticized the judiciary’s reliance on “judge’s discretion” as a justification for these sentences. The head of the 26th branch of the Revolutionary Court, Iman Afshari, cited this controversial clause while issuing the death penalties. The campaign argues that this approach, coupled with months of torture, prolonged interrogations, and solitary confinement, highlights the fabricated nature of the charges against these prisoners.

The Plight of the “Ekbatan Children”

The statement also draws attention to six political prisoners known as the “Ekbatan Children,” who have likewise been sentenced to death. The campaign insists that such repressive measures will not deter the Iranian people’s struggle for freedom.

A Call for Global Action

The “No Execution Tuesdays” campaign has reiterated its mission to abolish capital punishment and end state violence. It has called on human rights organizations and international authorities to take urgent and effective steps to halt executions, save the lives of those at risk, and secure the release of all political prisoners.

The campaign expressed gratitude to the diverse segments of Iranian society—including workers, retirees, teachers, students, and activists—who have courageously stood against executions through protests and rallies. It emphasized the importance of sustaining these collective efforts.

Hunger Strike for Justice

To mark the 45th week of their movement, members of the “No Execution Tuesdays” campaign have announced a coordinated hunger strike across 25 prisons in Iran on December 3. Through these continued acts of resistance, the campaign aims to amplify its message against the regime’s systemic use of capital punishment and its broader policies of oppression.

This statement serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of the Iranian regime’s actions and a call to the global community to act decisively in defense of human rights.