Global Call to Action: 24 Hour Livestream In Support of “No Death Penalty Tuesdays” for World Day Against the Death Penalty

We invite:

• All diaspora Iranians to organise sit-ins, demonstrations, information tables in city centres, meetings with their parliamentary representatives, city officials or Foreign Ministries, contacting human rights organisations and asking them to take part in the 24-hour livestream.
• All Iranian and international human rights organisation to pay special attention to executions in Iran on World Day Against the Death Penalty and to participate in the livestream by introducing a representative who can make short statements and expressions of support.
• All human rights, civil, political, artistic, scientific and academic personalities to register to participate and speak at the 24-hour livestream in support of the “No Death Penalty Tuesdays” abolitionist movement.

The 24-hour livestream will take place on 8 October 2024, the Tuesday before World Day Against the Death Penalty and at the same time as the “No Death Penalty Tuesdays” in Iranian prisons. It will begin at 12pm CET/13:30 Tehran.

Please contact:

Iran Human Rights: [email protected]

Global Campaign to Stop Executions in Iran: [email protected]

World Day Against the Death Penalty

Observed every 10 October, the World Day Against the Death Penalty unifies the global abolitionist movement and mobilises civil society, political leaders and public opinion to support the call for universal abolition of capital punishment. On 10 October 2024 and 2025, the World Day is dedicated to challenging the misconception that the death penalty can make people and communities safer.

No Death Penalty Tuesdays

After bearing witness to months of weekly group executions in Karaj and the execution of several political prisoners in January 2024, a group of brave political prisoners in Ghezelhesar Prison in Karaj staged a protest which was violently suppressed. The diverse group of political prisoners from different backgrounds and beliefs thus began a weekly hunger strike on 30th January that became known as “Black Tuesdays” and “No Death Penalty Tuesdays.” They chose Tuesdays for that is the day death row inmates are typically transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for the gallows in Ghezelhesar Prison.

The weekly mass hunger strikes had spread to 21 prisons across Iran in their 34th week on 27 September 2024. The participants remain resolute in their demands against the death penalty despite violent crackdowns.

On 27 August, 68 human rights organisations signed a joint statement in solidarity and support of the “No Death Penalty Tuesdays” abolitionist movement in Iran.