On Tuesday, March 11, 2025, prisoners across 38 Iranian prisons will participate in the 59th week of the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign by going on a hunger strike. This ongoing protest movement has been gaining momentum in opposition to the Iranian regime’s execution policies. In a significant development, a group of female prisoners from the women’s ward of Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz has joined the campaign, marking International Women’s Day with a powerful statement against capital punishment.
A Powerful Stand on International Women’s Day
The women of Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz have called for an end to the death penalty, highlighting the dire human rights situation in Iran. In their statement, they expressed solidarity with all oppressed women, particularly those who have faced relentless discrimination and violence under the current regime.
“The oppressive regime in Iran continues its killing machine without pause,” the statement reads. “Since February 19, nearly 100 people have been executed, including 28 individuals in a single day on March 1.”
Their message echoes a broader call for justice, commemorating the thousands of women who have lost their lives in the struggle for freedom. They urged political activists, human rights defenders, civil society members, and labor rights advocates to rally against executions and support those on death row.
🔴 59th Week of “No to Execution Tuesdays” – Hunger Strike in 38 Iranian Prisons
On March 11, 2025, prisoners in 38 prisons across Iran launched a hunger strike to protest executions.
📢Since Feb 19, nearly 100 executions have taken place, including 28 in a single day. pic.twitter.com/Pp0DBg9YA5
— SIMAY AZADI TV (@en_simayazadi) March 11, 2025
The Scale of the Crisis
Iran has one of the highest execution rates in the world. The judicial system, controlled by the ruling religious dictatorship, frequently uses the death penalty as a tool of oppression. The campaign aims to keep the plight of death row prisoners in the spotlight, ensuring that global attention remains focused on the Iranian government’s brutal practices.
The hunger strike on March 11 will be observed in the following prisons:
- Tehran & Karaj: Evin Prison (Women’s Ward, Wards 4 and 8), Qezelhessar Prison (Units 3 and 4), Karaj Central Prison, Greater Tehran Prison, Khorin Varamin Prison.
- Central & Southern Iran: Chubindar Qazvin Prison, Arak Prison, Khorramabad Prison, Esfahan Asadabad Prison, Dastgerd Esfahan Prison, Sheiban Ahvaz Prison, Sepidar Ahvaz Prison (Women’s and Men’s Wards), Shiraz Nezam Prison, Adelabad Shiraz Prison (Women’s and Men’s Wards), Borazjan Prison, Ramhormoz Prison, Bam Prison, Kahnuj Prison, Tabas Prison, Jovein Prison.
- Northern & Eastern Iran: Mashhad Prison, Gonbad-e-Kavus Prison, Qaemshahr Prison, Rasht Prison (Men’s and Women’s Wards), Rudsar Prison, Haviq Talesh Prison.
- Western Iran & Kurdistan Region: Dieselabad Kermanshah Prison, Ardabil Prison, Tabriz Prison, Urmia Prison, Salmas Prison, Khoy Prison, Naqadeh Prison, Miandoab Prison, Saqqez Prison, Baneh Prison, Marivan Prison, Kamyaran Prison.
Global Call for Action
The “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign continues to push for international intervention and greater pressure on the Iranian government to halt its execution spree. The organizers call upon the global community to take a firm stance against these human rights violations.
“We must ensure that the voices of death row prisoners are heard,” the campaign’s statement asserts. “Every moment they spend in prison is overshadowed by the imminent threat of execution. It is our duty to keep their struggle at the forefront of international human rights efforts.”
As this movement enters its 59th week, the hunger strike across these 38 prisons sends a clear message: the fight against the death penalty in Iran is far from over. The resilience of these prisoners and their supporters continues to challenge one of the world’s most repressive regimes, demanding justice and an end to state-sanctioned executions.
March 11, 2025
No to Execution Tuesdays Campaign