women prisoners: In the 70th week of the nationwide campaign “No to Execution Tuesdays” political prisoners in the women’s ward of Evin Prison raised their voices in solidarity with the movement, chanting bold and powerful slogans against the death penalty.
From the prison courtyard, they called out the names of political prisoners sentenced to death, projecting their defiance beyond the prison walls and joining the growing national campaign to abolish capital punishment.
These women prisoners—who have long endured state repression and violence—chanted messages such as: “Evin women’s ward united in defiance — standing firm until the death penalty is abolished,” “This is the final message: execute, and there will be an uprising,” “Death to the dictator,” and “No to repression, no to execution, no to threats — they no longer work.”
Their slogans made their position clear: a resolute rejection of executions, oppression, and the authoritarian structure of the Iranian regime.
The women prisoners of Evin were among the first prisoners in the country to join the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign—an initiative that aims to halt executions, particularly of political and ideological prisoners, and demand their release.
The 70th Week Kicks Off in 45 Prisons: Hunger Strikes and Nationwide Outcry
As the campaign entered its 70th week, prisoners in Fardis Prison (Karaj) also joined the protest. In total, inmates in 45 prisons across Iran are now on hunger strike, protesting the alarming surge in executions.
A statement released by prisoners this week read: “In the solar month of Ordibehesht (April 21- May 21), the regime’s machinery of repression executed more than 170 prisoners, sending them to the gallows in state-sanctioned slaughter. A horrifying, unprecedented figure that amounts to two executions every nine hours in Iran. In May alone, an unprecedented seven women have been executed—with four days still remaining in the month.”
“Silence is not a solution. We must raise our voices and rise up against this cruelty and injustice,” read the statement of the 70th week of the campaign.
Voices of Protest in Iran’s Streets: Demonstrations in 26 Cities
Simultaneous with the prison protests, families of political prisoners and rebellious youths took to the streets in 26 cities across Iran, amplifying their outrage through public demonstrations.
Protesters carried photos of death-row prisoners and placards with messages such as: “No to execution,” “Stop executions,” “Immediate abolition of death sentences,” and “No to medieval punishments.”
These gatherings—in public squares and outside prison gates—reflect the growing social reach of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign. What began behind bars has now spread into the heart of Iranian society, resonating in the voices of families and citizens who refuse to stay silent.
This week, protests were held in the cities of Tehran, Ahvaz, Mashhad, Amol, Rudsar, Sirjan, Mahshahr, Astara, Bandar Abbas, Rasht, Shahr-e Kord, Qeshm, Qom, Yazd, Nishapur, Hamedan, Borujen, Shaft, Arak, Baharestan, Robat Karim, Shahr-e Qods, Shahriar, Shiraz, Karaj, and Malard, where protesters took to the streets in solidarity with “No to Execution Tuesdays.”
