On Tuesday, January 21, the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign reached its first anniversary. This heroic initiative, now in its 52nd week, has expanded to 34 prisons across Iran. Just last week, the women’s ward of Adelabad Prison in Shiraz joined the campaign.
Launched on January 29, 2024, by prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison, the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign emerged as a response to the Iranian regime’s excessive use of the death penalty.
Over the past year, the movement has garnered widespread support. In addition to spreading to prisons nationwide, more than 3,000 leaders, public figures, and global representatives have voiced their solidarity. Teacher unions in various provinces, despite facing intense security pressures, have courageously endorsed the campaign, chanting “No to Executions” during their weekly gatherings. Kurdish clerics in cities across Kurdistan have also publicly condemned executions.
In a statement marking the campaign’s 52nd week, organizers reiterated their core message:
“The campaign condemns all death sentences, regardless of the charges or beliefs of the prisoners, and once again asserts that the death penalty is inhumane and must be abolished. The despotic Iranian regime uses its self-serving ‘religious and legal’ pretexts to suppress society through executions. It is essential to oppose the death penalty as an inhumane practice and to eliminate the conditions that foster crime, which are often created by the regime itself.”
Campaign members expressed gratitude for public support and announced their backing for a general strike in Kurdistan against executions on Wednesday. They called on everyone to join this strike and encouraged all prisoners in various facilities to unite with the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign to collectively defend the right to life for those on death row.
On Tuesday, January 21, 2025, during its 52nd week, the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign saw hunger strikes across 34 prisons, including Evin Prison (Women’s Ward, Wards 4 and 8), Ghezel Hesar Prison (Units 3 and 4), Karaj Central Prison, Greater Tehran Prison, Khorin Varamin Prison, Arak Prison, Khorramabad Prison, Isfahan Asadabad Prison, Isfahan Dastgerd Prison, Ahvaz Sheiban Prison, Shiraz Nezam Prison, Adelabad Prison in Shiraz (Women’s and Men’s Wards), Borazjan Prison, Bam Prison, Kahnouj Prison, Tabas Prison, Joveyn Prison, Mashhad Prison, Qaemshahr Prison, Lakan Prison of Rasht (Women’s and men’s Wards), Roudsar Prison, Haviq Talesh Prison, Ardabil Prison, Tabriz Prison, Urmia Prison, Salmas Prison, Khoy Prison, Naqadeh Prison, Saqqez Prison, Baneh Prison, Marivan Prison, and Kamyaran Prison.
