In a significant demonstration of global unity, over 3,000 influential figures from 87 countries have rallied to advocate for the abolition of executions in Iran. This initiative coincided with International Human Rights Day, where the signatories—including former heads of state, ministers, UN officials, human rights activists, Nobel laureates, and more than 600 mayors from France—expressed their support for the “No to Executions” campaign spearheaded by Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).
3,000 prominent figures worldwide join the “No to Execution in Iran” campaign . With 74% of global executions in 2023, the regime uses death to instill fear. They also endorse @Maryam_Rajavi‘s call to end executions in #Iran. #StopExecutionsinIran pic.twitter.com/855DhxXFTF
— SIMAY AZADI TV (@en_simayazadi) December 11, 2024
The statement emphasizes the increasing use of capital punishment by Iranian authorities as a means to instill fear and stifle opposition. Notably, Iran was responsible for 74% of global executions in 2023, prompting the signatories to denounce these actions as crimes against humanity.
Supporters have commended Rajavi‘s unwavering dedication to ending the death penalty, a commitment encapsulated in her Ten-Point Plan for a democratic Iran. This objective was reiterated by her during the International Jurists’ Conference held in Paris in August 2024.
The NCRI asserts that executions in Iran serve not only as judicial penalties but also as instruments of political repression. The statement calls upon the international community to hold the Iranian regime accountable and to back initiatives aimed at achieving systemic change.
The full statement follows below: