Thirty Weeks of Resistance Against Executions: The Continuation of the "No to Execution Tuesdays" Campaign in 18 Prisons Across the Country
Political prisoners held in 18 Iranian prisons have once again expressed their strong opposition to the inhumane death penalty and the alarming rise in executions by publishing a joint letter. This statement coincides with the 30th week of the "No to Execution Tuesdays" campaign.
The full text of this statement, a copy of which has been obtained by Hengaw, is as follows:
According to reliable sources, the protest strike by prisoners in the country's prisons, known as the "No to Execution Tuesdays" campaign, which began in February, continued today, Tuesday, August 20th, marking its thirtieth week as prisoners across the country joined the strike.
This campaign, now joined by hundreds of prisoners in 18 prisons nationwide, has been, from the outset, a protest against the very concept of execution as an inhumane and irreversible punishment, regardless of the charges, motives, or beliefs of those sentenced to death. The campaign’s primary goal is the abolition of this inhumane punishment.
The ongoing and growing momentum of this campaign comes at a time when the judiciary and security officials of the Islamic Republic have executed over 310 people since the beginning of 2024. Among those executed in recent months, 16 were female prisoners. The regime has accelerated its execution rate in recent weeks, with 118 individuals executed in August alone.
The regime's recent widespread use of the death penalty has been so extensive that it seems the officials of this authoritarian state systematically view execution as the solution to all crises, effectively taking "hard revenge" on the people of this land through the gallows.
In the midst of this, women in society, who could be the driving force for fundamental change in Iran, have been targeted by the government for even harsher repression both on the streets and in prison. The statistics of 16 women executed in the past five months, the arrests, and violence against women in society under the pretext of the government-imposed hijab, which in some cases has led to the death or violation of the health rights of girls and women, are clear examples of this violent confrontation by the regime with women, who are seen as a leading force for fundamental change.
It is clear that the Islamic Republic does not execute groups of 100 or 120 people at a time, but rather 120 individuals are executed in their isolation, while thousands of other prisoners remain alone and helpless, waiting for the final day of their lives and the implementation of their death sentences. As prisoners in Evin and Lakan Rasht prisons have rightly pointed out, stopping this killing machine and halting executions is only possible through collective and widespread actions and protests. Since execution is a social issue carried out by the government, confronting it must also be a social effort that can only be achieved through collective action and unity.
The necessity of unity and solidarity to fight against executions has been repeatedly emphasized by the prisoners involved in the "No to Execution Tuesdays" campaign. They have called on everyone to rise up in any way possible and to support the prisoners in their resistance, which began from within the prisons.
According to reliable sources, prisoners participating in the "No to Execution Tuesdays" campaign have gone on hunger strike for the thirtieth consecutive week today in various prisons across the country, including Evin Prison (Women's Ward, Ward 4, Ward 6, and Ward 8), Ghezel Hesar Prison (Unit 3 and Unit 4), Central Karaj Prison, Khorramabad Prison, Shiraz Military Prison, Mashhad Prison, Qaemshahr Prison, Lakan Rasht Prison (Women's Ward and Men's Ward), Tabriz Prison, Ardabil Prison, Khoy Prison, Naqadeh Prison, Urmia Prison, Salmas Prison, Saqqez Prison, Baneh Prison, Mariwan Prison, and Kamyaran Prison. They have called on all compatriots, especially prisoners in other prisons, to join and support this campaign. They have also called on Ms. Mai Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, to pay special attention to these inhumane actions, particularly the executions in Iran, and to tirelessly work towards stopping executions and ending this inhumane situation in Iran.
#NoToExecutionTuesdays
August 20, 2024
