A Global Day of Advocacy
October 10 marks the World Day Against the Death Penalty, established in 2003 by the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty. Now in its 22nd year, this global day unites human rights defenders, NGOs, and citizens worldwide in calling for an end to executions. It serves as a reminder of the universal right to life and the urgent need to abolish capital punishment in all its forms.
Iran’s Escalating Use of Executions
In 2025, Iran has witnessed an unprecedented surge in executions. According to Amnesty International, over 1,000 people have been executed in the past year — a horrifying assault on the right to life. The regime uses the death penalty not as a tool of justice but as an instrument of fear, aiming to suppress dissent, intimidate society, and stifle any spark of uprising among a population yearning for freedom.
The ongoing escalation of executions in Iran has reached horrific proportions as the authorities continue to systematically weaponize the death penalty as a tool of repression and to quash dissent while displaying a chilling assault on the right to life.https://t.co/Fnj9vzaNSa
— Amnesty Iran (@AmnestyIran) September 26, 2025
The “No to Executions” Campaign and the Iranian People’s Resistance
Inside Iran, brave political prisoners have launched the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign, which has now reached its 89th consecutive week. Each Tuesday, activists and families of victims raise their voices against the brutality of the regime’s hangings. Their defiance reflects a growing movement within Iran rejecting the mullahs’ machinery of death.
Maryam Rajavi’s Call for Abolition and Human Rights
At the forefront of this movement stands Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). Mrs. Rajavi has consistently called for the abolition of the death penalty and the establishment of a society based on justice, human dignity, and freedom. Her Ten-Point Plan for a Free Iran envisions a republic where capital punishment has no place, and the rule of law replaces the rule of terror.
200 executions in September!
The regime is trying to prevent uprisings with greater brutality — but young people’s resolve for regime change only grows stronger.
The regime must be rejected and shunned by the international community, and Ali Khamenei and other regime officials… pic.twitter.com/JPGogbL6nE— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) October 2, 2025
International Support: Conference and Geneva Rally
In addition to global advocacy efforts, a conference was recently held in Geneva focusing on the alarming escalation of executions and the imperative for international accountability. This gathering brought together human rights defenders, Iranian Resistance supporters, and United Nations observers to strategize and amplify calls for justice. Subsequently, a rally outside the UN in Geneva followed, where demonstrators protested the regime’s execution campaign, demanding action and solidarity from the international community.
Iran News Alert
On September 29, simultaneously with the 60th UNHRC session, a conference in Geneva addressed Iran’s catastrophic human rights record. In a message, @Maryam_Rajavi highlighted the regime’s brutal crackdown, particularly on MEK members. Speakers, including… pic.twitter.com/4lKltNfv7D
— SIMAY AZADI TV (@en_simayazadi) October 2, 2025
Conclusion
As the world marks the 22nd World Day Against the Death Penalty, Iran stands as both a tragic example of state violence and a beacon of resilience through its citizens’ unwavering resistance. The call of “No to Executions” resonates far beyond Iran’s borders—it is a cry for humanity, justice, and the sanctity of life.