On Tuesday, August 25, the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign continued and expanded to 61 prisons across the country. In a statement, prisoners participating in the campaign, recalling the executions and death sentences issued for political prisoners over the past week, noted that Ghezel Hesar Prison had been turned into a major killing ground.
Full text of the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign statement
Noor Prison joins the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign in its 135th week, expanding the campaign to 61 different prisons
These days, the people’s economic conditions are becoming increasingly dire due to the regime’s inefficiency, anti-people policies, and crisis-generating policies. At the same time, instead of resolving the crisis, the regime does nothing but suppress society. To prevent protests, they continue to carry out executions—particularly of protesting young people and political prisoners—and every day we witness the execution of one of these loved ones.
Last week, two political prisoners from the January protests, Ghaem Hosseini at Isfahan Prison and Majid Adineh at Karaj Central Prison, were hanged. At the same time, death sentences were issued or upheld for several other political prisoners, including Arghavan Fallahi’s death sentence at Evin Women’s Prison, Rasoul Rezaei at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, and Mohammadreza Majidi-Asl, who was transferred from Greater Tehran Prison to Ghezel Hesar. This sudden transfer to Ghezel Hesar, the center for executions in Tehran Province and one of the regime’s killing grounds, has greatly increased his family’s concerns. The judicial proceedings in the cases of these individuals—who are at risk of having their death sentences carried out imminently—have, like those of many other prisoners, been highly unfair and opaque.
Iran’s Regime Upholds Death Sentence of Political Prisoner Arghavan Fallahi
Furthermore, 378 people have been executed since the beginning of the Iranian year on March 22, and the number has surpassed 4,000 since the Pezeshkian government came to power. Over the past week, the ruling authoritarian regime has made changes to the judiciary. These changes were carried out following proposals and direct intervention by security institutions and pose a serious danger to prisoners and those sentenced to death, because there is no independent institution to review and adjudicate their cases, and these individuals are even deprived of the right to choose their own lawyer.
In contrast, the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign and the resisting prisoners continue to stand firm and persevere. This week, a group of prisoners at Noor Prison in northern Iran also joined the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign. These prisoners have placed their only hope in their collective strength, the people, and awakened consciences that continue, without pause, to stand and fight against the killing machine.
We sincerely thank the retirees and everyone who, in gatherings and throughout their communities, make the call of “No to Executions” heard by all. The teachers’ call of “No to Executions” must also receive the support of workers and other social forces. We appreciate the teachers who have been at the forefront and pioneers in promoting and continuing this path. In every classroom, children should be taught that the fundamental principle is always the right to life and living, not death and execution. On Tuesday, August 25, during the 135th week of the campaign, members of the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign are on hunger strike in 61 prisons across the country.
