Ms. Gina Romero, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, joined the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign on Tuesday, 13 October 2026. The Colombian expert announced a 24-hour hunger strike in solidarity with political prisoners across Iran who have been staging weekly protests against the death penalty.
It is 3:30 PM on Monday, October 12th in Colombia, which means it’s midnight in Iran and Tuesday, October 13th has just begun. I have just finished my last meal, as my 24-hour hunger strike starts now.
I join #NoToExecutionTuesdays in solidarity with the brave people of Iran. pic.twitter.com/ZEbMqIvzRi— Gina Romero (@Ginitastar) October 12, 2026
Romero stated that the death penalty is being used against people for exercising their rights to freedom of assembly, association, and expression, as well as their political rights. In a video message and thread posted on X, she noted that at least 46 protesters have been executed since March—the highest number of political executions in nearly four decades—following the large-scale protests earlier in 2026. She called for an immediate halt to executions, the quashing of death sentences imposed after unfair trials, and independent monitoring of prisoners at risk, while reiterating that the death penalty should be abolished in all cases.
#Iran On Tuesday the 13th, I am joining the 'No Execution Tuesdays' hunger strike.
The death penalty is being used against people for exercising their rights to freedom of assembly, association, and expression, as well as their political rights. 1/ pic.twitter.com/Ld2kAj1Djq
— Gina Romero (@Ginitastar) October 11, 2026
The “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign began in early 2024 with a hunger strike by prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison and has since expanded. On 13 October, participants in 66 prisons across Iran marked the 142nd consecutive week of the action. Romero said she was joining the prisoners “from the outside,” noting that those behind bars are “risking everything.”
Her announcement quickly drew broad international support. Mai Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, reshared the post and described it as important.
Important post from the UN special rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association https://t.co/borhbdDtnx
— Mai Sato (@drmaisato) October 11, 2026
Lord David Alton, a crossbench peer in the UK House of Lords with a long record on human rights, publicly backed the move.
Abhorrent public executions are used in dictatorships like Iran, Afghanistan, and North Korea.
We might not be surprised by the savagery of the Mullahs or by dictatorships which routinely resort to barbarism.
But such macabre and grotesque spectacles should have no place in…
— Lord (David) Alton (@DavidAltonHL) October 12, 2026
British MP Jim Shannon and other parliamentarians and human rights advocates from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Australia also expressed solidarity.
I commend @Ginitastar for her principled stand in joining the #NoToExecutions campaign undertaking a 24 hr hunger strike in solidarity with Iran's political prisoners. We unite in defending the right to life, demand an #endtoexecutions & uphold human rights in Iran @drmaisato https://t.co/A8ti2oq3B6
— Jim Shannon MP (@JimShannonMP) October 13, 2026
Ja ik ben vandaag in hongerstaking. Net als alle politieke gevangenen in 66 gevangenissen dat elke dinsdag in Iran doen. #STOPEXECUTIONSIRAN. Wereldwijd wordt er vandaag niet gegeten uit protest. Doe mee.
En deel deze boodschap! #ncri #Iran pic.twitter.com/fo7PyIQYr9— Dorien Rookmaker (@RookmakerDorien) October 13, 2026
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), stated that Romero’s solidarity “should translate into global action to stop executions in Iran,” including independent prison inspections and accountability for officials under universal jurisdiction.
UN Special Rapporteur Gina Romero’s @Ginitastar solidarity with the "#NoToExecutionTuesdays” hunger strike should translate into global action to stop executions in Iran, including independent international inspections of prisons and the prosecution of regime officials for crimes…
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) October 13, 2026
I join Special Rapporteur @Ginitastar in the No to Execution Tuesdays hunger strike.
In solidarity with Iran’s political prisoners and protesters
Their voices must be heard. Their lives must be protected#StopexecutionenIran pic.twitter.com/vdAoLiy7yN— Malieh Hosseini (@malihehosseini9) October 13, 2026
We salute you @spud_au @Ginitastar @drmaisato @Maryam_Rajavi @brianmedway at your longstanding for the freedom and justice that in #Iran @SaforaSM @SenatorWong @KMooreGilbert https://t.co/9X6YsxVZuO
— Mohammad Sadeghpour (@mo_sadeghpour) October 13, 2026
Today, I join @ginitastar in the #NoToExecutionTuesdays hunger strike in solidarity with Iran’s political prisoners. As they continue to resist injustice behind prison walls, we must continue to raise our voices.🤍✊🏽#StopExecutionsInIran #NoToExecutionTuesdays #نه_به_اعدام pic.twitter.com/k7GMRVH0lc
— emma (@emma_azadi) October 13, 2026
International Hunger Strike in Solidarity with Iran's Political Prisoners
UN Special Rapporteur, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Former Parliamentarians and Human Rights Defenders Join #NoToExecutionTuesdays Campaign in Its 142nd Week@Ginitastar @drmaisatohttps://t.co/lekRqepGFL
— Justice for the Victims of 1988 Massacre in Iran (@jvmifoundation) October 13, 2026
Ms. Romero also gave an interview to Simaye Azadi television discussing the action.
🎥EXCLUSIVE interview with UN Special Rapporteur Gina Romero who is on hunger strike in support of Iran’s political prisoners. #NoToExecutionTuesdays@Ginitastar tells Simay Azadi: “I can help carry the heavy burden you bear every day.”
Interview by @Ehsaneghbale pic.twitter.com/DAGMgCJdNN
— SIMAY AZADI TV (@en_simayazadi) October 12, 2026
