In a bold act of defiance against a relentless wave of state-sanctioned killings, political prisoners across 38 Iranian prisons have launched a hunger strike as part of the 60th week of the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign. This growing movement, which opposes the Iranian regime’s execution policies, has gained widespread support despite harsh government repression. Timed to coincide with the celebrations of Nowruz and the Fire Festival (Chaharshanbe Suri), the campaign symbolizes resistance against systemic oppression and calls for international intervention.
According to the campaign, at least 1,148 prisoners were executed in the Iranian year 1403, marking a grim new milestone in Iran’s human rights crisis. In the most recent four-week period alone, 116 individuals were put to death, reinforcing concerns about the regime’s escalating use of executions as a tool of political control and intimidation.
Join the online conference marking the first anniversary of the 'No to Execution Tuesdays' hunger strike in #Iran’s prisonshttps://t.co/QUW1CJKPL2
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) January 21, 2025
The hunger strike takes on heightened urgency as political prisoner Hatem Özdemir faces imminent execution. Iran’s Supreme Court recently rejected his appeal for retrial, leaving him at immediate risk. His case reflects a broader trend of harsh sentencing against dissidents and marginalized groups, many of whom have been sentenced to death under questionable legal proceedings.
Despite severe repression, the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign has continued to gather momentum, attracting support from workers, teachers, artists, human rights organizations, and civil society groups both inside and outside Iran. Organizers urge all supporters of human rights and justice to take action in preventing further state-sponsored killings.
59th Week of “No to Execution Tuesdays” Campaign Expands to 38 Prisons Across Iran https://t.co/TiByDUlIkW via @en_simayazadi
— SIMAY AZADI TV (@en_simayazadi) March 12, 2025
The movement also condemns the systematic use of torture and extrajudicial killings, highlighting the recent case of Heydar Mohammadi (Hasanvand), who was allegedly tortured to death by regime forces at the Nahavand Police Detention Center on March 13. This incident underscores the broader pattern of brutality employed by Iranian authorities to silence opposition and instill fear among the population.
Marking its second Nowruz with sustained activism, the campaign remains committed to fighting against executions in the coming year. As the movement expands across Iran’s prison system, activists warn that thousands of inmates remain on death row, facing imminent execution. For instance, at Lakan Prison alone, 14 out of 130 female inmates have been sentenced to death, with two cases already referred for execution.
🔴 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 campaign calls on all political prisoners and freedom-seeking individuals to join the hunger strike and resist state oppression. With 38 prisons participating in this latest protest, the movement’s message is clear: the fight against executions in Iran is far from over, and international pressure is essential in holding the regime accountable for its human rights violations.
MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her site, Twitter & Facebook, NCRI (Twitter & Facebook), and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTu
