On January 21, 2025, prisoners across Iran commemorated the 52nd consecutive week of the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign. This coordinated protest movement, initiated by political prisoners, opposes the Iranian regime’s widespread use of the death penalty. Since its launch in early 2024, the campaign has grown to include weekly hunger strikes and statements condemning executions, aiming to raise awareness and garner support both nationally and internationally. Now spanning 34 prisons across the country, the campaign recently welcomed the men’s ward of Adelabad Prison in Shiraz on the eve of its first anniversary.
In their statement, prisoners highlighted that over 110 individuals were executed during the Persian month of Dey (December 21–January 20). Since the Persian calendar year 1403 began in March 2024, more than 950 people have been hanged. The statement described these statistics as “an unprecedented surge in executions used to suppress society.”
The statement also drew attention to the case of Malek Davarshenas (Mousavi), a 26-year-old political prisoner from Khorramshahr, who faces an imminent execution sentence on charges of rebellion.
Growing Support for the Campaign
The “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign has gained significant support within Iran and beyond its borders. Notably, 11 teachers’ unions from various provinces have publicly endorsed the movement, despite intimidation from the regime’s security forces.
Prisoners’ statements emphasized that the Iranian people’s joy over the punishment of officials like Mohammad Moghiseh and Ali Razini highlights widespread public disdain for the death penalty. “The Iranian people’s aversion to executions reflects decades of resistance to the regime’s policies of repression and bloodshed,” the statement noted.
Urging solidarity, the prisoners added: “We call on all prisoners across the nation to join the ‘No to Executions Tuesdays’ campaign and unite our voices to defend the right to life for those facing execution.”
Iran’s Execution Policy: A Tool for Survival
According to the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), at least 1,000 executions were carried out in 2024—the highest number in three decades. These alarming figures underscore the regime’s reliance on executions as a means of suppressing dissent.
The regime uses executions not only to intimidate but also to maintain its grip on power amid fears of being overthrown. However, the brutal and frequent use of capital punishment has only fueled public anger and bolstered organized resistance. Iranian society has largely overcome the fear of execution, with increasing defiance in the face of such repression.
Once boasting influence in the Middle East, the regime now finds itself battling for survival within its own borders, as public resistance intensifies both in the streets and behind prison walls.
How the Campaign Began
The “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign was born on January 30, 2024, when ten political prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison launched a hunger strike. Accompanied by a statement, they called on the public and the international community to take a stand against the regime’s execution policies.
One week later, women in Evin Prison’s female ward joined the initiative with their own hunger strike, adding momentum to the movement. Choosing Tuesdays as the day of protest carried symbolic weight—this is often the final day for prisoners transferred to solitary confinement before execution.
Support from other prisons quickly followed, and by the campaign’s first anniversary, 34 prisons nationwide had joined. Participating facilities include:
- Evin Prison (women’s ward, wards 4 and 8)
- Ghezel Hesar Prison (units 3 and 4)
- Karaj Central Prison
- Greater Tehran Prison
- And many more across cities like Shiraz, Ahvaz, Mashhad, and Tabriz.
This growing participation underscores the unity and resilience of political prisoners in opposing the regime’s violent policies.
A Movement Beyond Prison Walls
The “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign has extended beyond prison walls, resonating with Iranian society and the families of political prisoners. Human rights activists, families of executed prisoners, and professional organizations such as the Coordinating Council of Teachers’ Associations have expressed solidarity.
These endorsements have transformed the campaign from a prison-based protest into a broad social movement with national and international reach.
First Anniversary and Continued Resistance
Marking its first anniversary, the campaign remains a powerful symbol of resistance. It has unified political and non-political prisoners in a collective effort to challenge the regime. Female prisoners have played a pivotal role, leading protests and sit-ins to demonstrate their determination in the face of repression.
Every week, prisoners issue statements honoring resistance martyrs and reaffirming their right to oppose executions. This persistent activism sends a clear message: the Iranian regime’s repressive tactics cannot silence the growing demand for justice and freedom.
Historical and International Dimensions
The participation of 1980s political prisoners and families of execution victims has added emotional depth and historical context to the campaign. Their statements recall the mass executions of that era, drawing connections between past atrocities and current struggles.
Globally, organizations like Amnesty International have praised the campaign and condemned Iran’s execution practices. They have called for international action to hold Iranian officials accountable for crimes against humanity.
The Path Forward
The “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign continues to grow, proving that even in the face of grave oppression, collective resistance is possible. By choosing Tuesdays—a day laden with tragic significance—the movement keeps the human cost of executions at the forefront of public consciousness.
Built on solidarity and a call to global conscience, the campaign holds the potential to drive meaningful change. It connects with the broader struggle for freedom in Iran, embodying the spirit of a people determined to overcome tyranny and reclaim their rights.
