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UN Special Rapporteur Leopoldo Maldonado Joins “No to Execution Tuesdays” Hunger Strike as It Enters 143rd Week

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UN expert Leopoldo Maldonado joins 143rd week of Iran’s No to Execution Tuesdays hunger strike; MEPs, Nobel laureate, and global supporters stand with political prisoners.

UN Special Rapporteur Leopoldo Maldonado Joins the Campaign

Leopoldo Maldonado Gutiérrez, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, has joined the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign with a 24-hour hunger strike. On Monday, 19 October 2026, he announced that he would begin the action at midnight Iran time, coinciding with Tuesday, 20 October — the 143rd consecutive week of the prisoners’ weekly protest.

Maldonado stated: “I am joining a solidarity action with political prisoners in Iran participating in #NoToExecutionTuesdays. At 12 am Iran time, I’m going to start a 24-hour hunger strike.”

He later confirmed: “I have begun my solidarity action in support of political prisoners in Iran and those participating in #NoToExecutionTuesdays. I stand with those facing persecution for their political opinions, expression and peaceful dissent, and reiterate my call for an immediate halt to executions.”

The campaign, which began in early 2024 in Ghezel Hesar Prison, has grown into a nationwide act of resistance spanning 66 prisons. Prisoners choose Tuesdays because it is the day death-row inmates are typically transferred to solitary confinement ahead of execution. Despite intensifying repression and a sharp rise in executions, the hunger strikes continue.

Exclusive Interview with Simaye Azadi

In an exclusive interview with Simaye Azadi television, Maldonado explained the urgency of his action: “We should not wait until the scale becomes catastrophic before acting.” He said his hunger strike was intended to keep international attention focused on political prisoners and protesters facing execution, emphasizing that solidarity must translate into concrete steps to save lives.

European Parliament Solidarity

Members of the European Parliament held a solidarity event and publicly supported the campaign. Petras Austrevicius posted: “No to Execution Tuesday solidarity event at the European Parliament. We stand with people of Iran.”

Helmut Brandstätter stated: “Today, we joined the global campaign calling for an end to executions in Iran. I especially think of Mahvash Sabet, who is in prison only because she is Bahá’í. We stand with all political prisoners in Iran fighting against executions.”

The Friends of a Free Iran group in the European Parliament noted that the campaign has grown from a small number of prisoners to a movement spanning 66 prisons, and highlighted that last week UN Special Rapporteur Gina Romero joined the action, followed this week by Maldonado. They thanked participating MEPs, with special recognition for Petras Austrevicius for spearheading the initiative.

Milan Zver wrote that he supported the campaign and political prisoners in Iran, stressing that the authoritarian theocratic regime uses executions and repression to silence opposition, and calling for an end to executions and the release of political prisoners.

Danish MEP Per Clausen joined colleagues in the European Parliament to show solidarity with Iran’s political prisoners, stating: “Together with a number of other members of the EU Parliament, I today showed my solidarity with the political prisoners in Iran and demanded an immediate stop to the executions.”

 

Nobel Laureate and Academic Support

Oleksandra Matviichuk, head of the Center for Civil Liberties in Ukraine and co-recipient of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, amplified the call by sharing Maldonado’s statement under the hashtag #NoToExecutionTuesdays.

The Academics in Exile Association in the United Kingdom declared: “Full solidarity with the political prisoners in Iran and all those taking a stand against executions. No one should be executed for their political beliefs, peaceful protest, or call for freedom. The international community must act now to stop executions and abolish the death penalty in Iran. Silence is not an option.”

Iran Freedom Network thanked Maldonado for amplifying the voices of political prisoners through his solidarity hunger strike.

Voices of Iranian Freedom Advocates

Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the Iranian Resistance joined the action in large numbers. Sara Fallah reported being on hunger strike on 20 October in support of prisoners in their 143rd week across 66 prisons.

Sahar Sanaie stated she was joining Maldonado’s hunger strike in solidarity with political prisoners on death row.

Shahram G posted that he was joining the campaign in support of the UN Special Rapporteur’s action.

Others, including emma_azadi (joining for a second week) and numerous activists from Europe, Canada, and elsewhere, shared messages of solidarity, photos, and calls to #StopExecutionsInIran and #NoToExecutionTuesdays.

These individual actions form part of a broader wave of support from Iranians worldwide who continue to stand with political prisoners risking their lives inside Iran’s prisons.

Growing International Momentum

Maldonado’s decision to join the hunger strike — following Gina Romero’s action the previous week — marks a significant escalation in international attention to the prisoners’ sustained resistance. The combination of UN expert engagement, European parliamentary solidarity, support from a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and the ongoing participation of Iranian advocates underscores the growing recognition that executions in Iran, particularly those targeting political expression and protest, demand urgent and concrete international response.

The prisoners’ message remains clear after 143 weeks: the death penalty must end, and those sentenced for their beliefs and peaceful dissent must not be silenced by execution.

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