Call for Support of “No Death Penalty Tuesdays” Abolitionist Campaign in Iran on First Year Anniversary

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.

In August 2024, 68 Iranian and international rights organisations from four continents signed a joint statement in support and solidarity with the "No Death Penalty Tuesdays" abolitionist movement in Iranian prisons and called for international support.

On 8 October 2024, ahead of the "World Day Against the Death Penalty" and during the 37th week of the prisoners’ hunger strike, a wide range of Iranian and international human rights activists participated in a 24-hour livestream organised by Iran Human Rights and the Global Campaign Against Executions in Iran. This event aimed to show solidarity with the prisoners' campaign and emphasise the collective effort needed to end executions and abolish the inhumane death penalty in Iran.

As the campaign approaches its first anniversary, and as of the time of this report, prisoners in at least 34 prisons have joined the "No Death Penalty Tuesdays" movement. According to the campaign’s statement to mark the 52nd week, hunger strikes were carried out in the following prisons:

Evin Prison (Women's Ward, Wards 4 and 8), Ghezelhesar Prison (Units 3 and 4), Karaj Penitentiary (Central Prison), Greater Tehran Penitentiary, Khoreyn Varamin Prison, Arak Central Prison, Khorramabad Central Prison, Isfahan (Dastgerd) Central Prison, Asadabad Prison, Isfahan, Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz, Shiraz (Adel Abad) Central Prison (men and women’s wards) Nezam Prison, Shiraz, Bam Prison, Kahnuj Prison, Tabas Prison, Mashhad (Vakil Abad) Central Prison, Ghaemshahr Prison, Rasht Central Prison (men and women’s wards), Roudsar Prison, Ardabil Central Prison, Tabriz Central Prison, Urmia Central Prison, Salmas Prison, Khoy Prison, Naghdeh Prison, Saqqez Prison, Baneh Prison, Marivan Prison, Kamyaran Prison, Havigh Talesh Prison, Gilan, Jovin Prison, Khorasan Razavi, Borazjan Prison, Bushehr.