Cologne, Germany – October 10, 2026 – On the World Day Against the Death Penalty, supporters of the Iranian Resistance and human rights advocates took part in a 5-kilometer marathon in Cologne to condemn executions in Iran and launch a global call for the abolition of all death sentences in the country.
Wearing vests bearing the slogans “No to Executions” and “Stop Executions in Iran,” participants condemned the Iranian regime’s use of capital punishment as a tool of repression. They called for an immediate end to executions, particularly for political prisoners and protesters arrested during nationwide uprisings.
Demonstrators demanded the abolition of the death penalty, the release of all political prisoners, an end to state violence, and the establishment of a democratic republic in Iran. They expressed solidarity with political prisoners and those facing execution, reaffirming their commitment to a democratic future for the Iranian people.
Participants also rejected all forms of dictatorship, whether monarchical or theocratic, emphasizing their opposition to both the rule of the Shah and the current mullah-led regime.