IRAN - No to Execution Tuesays 45 weeks

IRAN - 45th week of “No to Executions Tuesdays”

December 3, 2024:

December 3, 2024 - IRAN. 45 Weeks of Defiance Against the Death Penalty Led by Prisoners
On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, the 45th campaign of “No to Executions Tuesdays” was held across 25 prisons in Iran. The campaign, aimed at combating the inhumane death penalty, asserts that taking the right to life is a violation of human dignity. It calls for the abolition of executions and an end to the violence and repression in Iran.
According to the Iranian Human Rights Society, prisoners on hunger strike commemorated Student Day, congratulating all students, particularly those who have, in recent years, been the focal point of popular uprisings and protests against the oppressive regime of the Supreme Leader. They honored the memory of all who have lost their lives, including students who turned universities into strongholds of resistance, freedom, and equality. Many were arrested, and some paid with their lives for their ideals.
The prisoners condemned the issuance of death sentences for six political prisoners in Evin Prison—Vahid Bani Amerian, Pouya Ghobadi, Babak Alipour, Ali Akbar Daneshvarkar, Abolhassan Montazer, and Mohammad Taghavi—accused of moharebeh (waging war against God). They also highlighted the death sentence of Mehrab Abdollahzadeh in Urmia Prison, one of those arrested during the 2022 protests.
The statement also noted the relentless use of the death penalty by the regime, reporting that over 28 individuals, including 2 minors, have been executed in the past week alone. Since the start of the Iranian calendar year, the number of executions has reached approximately 743. This alarming surge in medieval punishments prompted prisoners in Lakan Rasht Prison, one of the main centers for executions in recent months, to issue a protest statement earlier this week.
The campaign criticized the regime’s failure to address economic crises, which has led to widespread protests across all segments of society. Instead, the government has intensified its repression through laws like the misogynistic Hijab and Chastity Law, as well as mass arrests and executions, aiming to instill fear and suppress dissent.
Despite these measures, the campaign emphasized that such acts of brutal suppression will not go unanswered, as the courageous people of Iran continue their fight for freedom and justice.
A translated version of the statement supported by the striking political prisoners follows:
The “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign has reached its 45th week in 25 different prisons.
Ahead of December 6, [Iran’s] Student Day, we extend our congratulations to all students, especially those who, in recent years, have been the focal point of popular uprisings and protests against the authoritarian regime of the Supreme Leader. These students courageously transformed universities into bastions of resistance, freedom, and equality. Many have been arrested, and some have given their lives for the ideals of the student movement and the Iranian people. We honor the memory of all martyrs, including students.
As usual, the regime’s execution machine of crime and oppression continues its relentless killings. Since last Tuesday, over 28 individuals have been hanged in various prisons, including two minors who were executed in Yazd and Ghezel Hesar prisons. Reports indicate that the total number of victims and executions since the beginning of 2024 has reached approximately 743. The alarming intensity of these medieval punishments in recent weeks prompted members of the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign in Lakan Rasht Prison—one of the main centers for executions in recent months—to issue a protest statement earlier this week.
A government that has reached a deadlock in addressing the nation’s economic crises—leading to widespread protests across all segments of society—has resorted to passing the misogynistic Hijab and Chastity Law, increasing repression, and intensifying executions to instill fear in society.
As part of this ongoing repression, the judiciary recently sentenced Mehrab Abdollahzadeh, a political prisoner in Urmia Prison who was arrested during the 2022 protests, to death. Furthermore, six political prisoners in Evin Prison have also been sentenced to death on charges of moharebeh (waging war against God). Their names are: Vahid Bani Amrian; Pouya Ghobadi; Babak Alipour; Ali Akbar Daneshvarkar; Abolhassan Montazer; Mohammad Taghavi.
These political prisoners are members of the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign.
The deeply troubling and unjust nature of their trials is underscored by the fact that Eman Afshari, head of Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court, issued these death sentences based on “judicial knowledge.”
Over the years, the judiciary of the “Islamic Republic” has frequently weaponized “judicial knowledge” to issue death sentences. This practice, combined with months of torture, solitary confinement, and interrogations, reveals the fabricated nature of these cases.
These executions follow a pattern, as only a few weeks ago, 6 other political prisoners—known as the “Ekbatan Youth”—were also sentenced to death.
These brutal sentences and repressive measures will undoubtedly face resistance. The brave women and men of Iran have consistently demonstrated that they will not be intimidated and remain steadfast in their fight for freedom and liberation.
The “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign, which was established to combat the inhumane practice of the death penalty, asserts that the right to life is fundamental to human dignity. It calls for the abolition of the death penalty and an end to the violence and repression in Iran.
This campaign calls on all human rights organizations and institutions to take immediate and effective action to save the lives of prisoners and secure the release of all political prisoners. The perpetrators and enablers of these crimes must be held accountable before justice.
Additionally, we extend our gratitude to the brave men and women who, despite repression, continue to gather in Tehran to protest against executions. We also thank the workers, retirees, teachers, and students who champion this cause in their demonstrations. We believe these actions must grow in scale and persist to compel the regime to surrender. We continue to emphasize the importance of practical, united, and collective action against executions.
Members of the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign will be on hunger strike on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, across 25 prisons, including the following:
Evin Prison (Women’s Ward, Wards 4 and 8); Ghezel Hesar Prison (Units 3 and 4); Central Prison of Karaj; Greater Tehran Prison; Arak Prison; Khorramabad Prison; Asadabad Prison, Isfahan; Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan; Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz; Shiraz Military Prison; Bam Prison; Kahnuj Prison; Mashhad Prison; Qaemshahr Prison; Rasht Prison (Men’s and Women’s Wards); Ardabil Prison; Tabriz Prison; Urmia Prison; Salmas Prison; Khoy Prison; Naqadeh Prison; Saqqez Prison; Baneh Prison; Kamyaran Prison.
The “No to Executions Tuesdays” Campaign

https://www.ncr-iran.org/en/news/human-rights/iran-protests-45-weeks-of-defiance-against-the-death-penalty-led-by-prisoners/