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Political Prisoners' Hunger Strike in Iranian Prisons
Iranian prisoners continue their battle against execution: the sixty-third week of the "No to Execution Tuesday" campaign in 38 prisons across the country.
On Tuesday, April 8, 2025, the activities of the sixty-third week of the "No to Execution Tuesday" campaign commenced with wide participation from prisoners in 38 prisons in various Iranian provinces. This campaign, initiated by political prisoners in protest against the implementation of death sentences, represents one of the most prominent forms of resistance within the prisons.
The participating prisoners, in their unified statement this week, expressed their deep concern over the increasing rate of executions against political prisoners and those with ideological cases, alongside the troubling expansion of death sentences against detainees involved in non-violent criminal cases. The statement emphasized that the campaign of executions, which had somewhat declined during the Nowruz holiday, has returned with greater momentum after its conclusion, as a large number of prisoners have recently been transferred to isolation sections known as the "safe unit" in preparation for execution.
In this context, sources from inside Qezel Hesar Prison reported that at least ten prisoners were transferred to the isolation section on Monday, a move viewed by the prisoners as clear evidence of the imminent execution of their death sentences. This escalation coincided with significant developments on the international stage, notably the adoption by the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, during the conclusion of its 58th session, of a resolution extending the mandate of the special rapporteur on human rights in Iran and the independent international fact-finding committee for another year. The committee's powers were expanded to include investigations into all serious and ongoing violations within the country, and to gather the necessary evidence for potential future legal action against those responsible.
At the same time, the European Parliament, in a separate resolution, condemned the wide wave of executions in Iran and criticized the upholding of the death sentence against both Mehdi Hosseini and Behrouz Ehsani. The European Parliament reiterated its call for the immediate release of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, and again urged the inclusion of the "Iranian Revolutionary Guard" on the EU's list of terrorist organizations.
However, the Iranian regime has shown complete disregard for these international condemnations.
The statement issued by the participating prisoners this week emphasized a clear and unequivocal condemnation of the death penalty, warning against the consequences of expanding the application of this arbitrary punishment within Iranian prisons. The statement also called on the international community to link the continuation of any relations or agreements with the Iranian regime to a clear condition: the complete and final abolition of the death penalty.
The prisons participating in the hunger strike this week include: Evin (women's ward, sections 4 and 8), Qezel Hesar (units 3 and 4), Karaj, Greater Tehran Prison, Khorrin and Ramin, Choupindar in Qazvin, Arak, Khorramabad, Asadabad Isfahan, Dashtgerd Isfahan, Shayban Ahvaz, Sepidar Ahvaz (men and women), Nazem Shiraz, Adelabad Shiraz (men and women), Barazjan, Ramhormoz, Bam, Kahnouj, Tabas, Jowin, Mashhad, Gonbad-e Kavous, Qaem Shahr, Lakansh Roshteh (men and women), Rudsar, Hovigh Talu-ash, Dieselabad Kermanshah, Ardabil, Tabriz, Urmia, Salmas, Khoy, Naqdeh, Miyandoab, Saqqez, Baneh, Mariwan, and Kamyaran.
The "No to Execution Tuesday" campaign, which started over a year ago, has become a loud voice of protest within Iranian prisons and a continuous message from behind bars expressing the Iranian people's longing for dignity and life, and their absolute rejection of death sentences issued by courts that lack legitimacy and credibility.
