This growing movement, initiated by prisoners to protest the Iranian regime’s rampant use of the death penalty, has garnered increasing support from civil activists and former prisoners alike.
Participants from prisons in cities like Tehran, Karaj, Shiraz, Mashhad, and Tabriz have joined the weekly protest. In a joint statement, the political prisoners condemned the recent surge in executions, particularly following the 2022 nationwide protests, which saw widespread unrest and a harsh crackdown from the regime. The prisoners specifically honored the memory of those executed during the aftermath, including Mohsen Shekari, Mohammad Mehdi Karami, Mohammad Hosseini, and Majidreza Rahnavard, whose deaths sparked outrage both in Iran and internationally.
In the Face of Increased Oppression, #Iranian Prisoners Stand Firm Against #DeathPenaltyhttps://t.co/d1pCklOvYh
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) September 3, 2024
In their declaration, the prisoners emphasized their solidarity with the families of the victims, calling their hunger strike a tribute to “all those who have been martyred during the 2022 protests.” They also highlighted the dangerous situation of detainees still facing execution, warning that since the inauguration of Iran’s current president, over 170 people have been executed. They fear for the fate of those who were arrested during the protests and now languish on death row.
The striking prisoners made a direct appeal to political activists, human rights defenders, and the Iranian public to shed light on the plight of those at risk. “We call for increased awareness and action from political and human rights activists, media outlets, and the Iranian people,” they urged, underlining the severity of the situation.
Notably, the movement has received growing support outside prison walls, with “100 former political prisoners and 150 civil activists” backing the cause. The prisoners expressed their gratitude for the solidarity shown and called for continued public support to push for the abolition of the death penalty in Iran.
#DeathPenalty in #Iran, A Tool to Control the Unyielding Societyhttps://t.co/fCQTVlwjYY
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) October 11, 2023
Despite the harsh conditions they face, the defiance of the political prisoners continues to draw international attention. Human rights organizations around the world have condemned Iran’s use of executions as a tool of suppression. As the 34th week of the hunger strike unfolds, the campaign persists as a powerful symbol of resistance against the regime’s brutal tactics.
The prisoners’ call to action echoes loudly, urging both Iranians and the international community to confront the regime’s human rights abuses and join the fight to end state-sponsored executions.
