The ‘No to Executions Tuesday‘ campaign has reached its 40th week, reflecting a unified resistance against the Iranian regime’s escalating use of capital punishment. This movement has seen participation from 24 prisons across the country, where inmates have engaged in hunger strikes to protest the alarming rate of executions. The campaign’s significance is underscored by the tragic execution of Jamshid Sharmahd and the confirmation of death sentences for several Baluchi political prisoners, highlighting the urgent call for global solidarity with those fighting against human rights abuses in Iran.
According to a report from Iran HRM, prisoners in Kahnuj Prison have declared their support for the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign, joining the hunger strikes on October 29, 2024. This addition brings the total number of participating prisons to 24, including notable facilities such as Evin, Ghezel Hesar, and Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz. These weekly protests are gaining traction among inmates nationwide, raising awareness about the frequency and conditions of executions within Iran’s penal system.
On October 29, former Italian MP and human rights activist, Ms. Elisabetta Zamparutti expressed her support for the campaign on her Facebook page, stating, “Today is the #TuesdayAgainstExecutions in Iran, and like every Tuesday, I support the hunger strike of Iranian death row prisoners. This marks the 40th Tuesday of hunger strikes since the initiative began at the start of the year. It has been a horrific year. Since the beginning of the year, at least 636 prisoners have been hanged in Iran, with about half of these executions occurring in recent months under President Pezeskian. From September 20 to October 20, around 150 prisoners were executed. The Iranian regime is grim and increasingly cruel towards the Iranian people.
In this hunger strike against executions, I also advocate for a regime change—one that can occur non-violently by supporting opposition movements like that led by Maryam Rajavi, which has a ten-point plan aligned with the principles of the rule of law!”
Zamparutti’s remarks not only highlight the dire situation within Iranian prisons but also call for a broader movement towards systemic change in Iran. As this campaign continues to grow, it serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience and courage of those fighting against oppression within the Iranian regime’s prisons.
This wave of executions and the corresponding resistance efforts underscore an urgent call for global solidarity with the Iranian people. Human rights organizations and advocates around the world should echo the prisoners’ demands and hold the Iranian regime accountable for these severe human rights violations.
