In its 91st consecutive week, the nationwide “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign once again became a powerful symbol of unity between political prisoners and the people protesting across Iran.
Born out of Iran’s recent social uprisings and in response to an unprecedented wave of executions, the campaign has evolved into one of the most enduring and wide-reaching anti–death penalty movements in the country’s modern history.
This week, while streets in dozens of Iranian cities echoed with chants of “No to Executions,” the cold walls of Ghezel Hesar Prison also trembled. In an unprecedented act of defiance, more than 1,500 inmates in Ward 2 of the prison launched a collective hunger strike, sending shockwaves through society and social media alike.
In the statement marking the campaign’s 91st week, organizers declared:
“Remaining silent in the face of this regime’s naked crimes is, in effect, complicity.
Until the complete abolition of executions, we will stand firm every Tuesday — as the voice of prisoners and their families — and we count on the solidarity of the honorable people of Iran, in every street, alley, and city.”
The Mothers of Justice: The Backbone of the Movement
The mothers and families of political prisoners have stood at the heart of the movement.
With their children facing execution or languishing in solitary confinement, these women have become the moral conscience of Iranian society, gathering each week with photos of their loved ones held high.
During this week’s demonstrations, the mothers of death row political prisoners once again made their voices heard with slogans such as:
- Don’t execute!
- Execution for no one!
- No, no, no to execution!
Their presence has infused the campaign with a deeply human, ethical, and nonpartisan dimension. It is a voice that rises from the depths of suffering and the collective conscience of Iranian society.
