68 Organisations Declare Support for “No Death Penalty Tuesdays” Abolitionist Movement in Iran

August 27, 2024: Justice For Iran, together with 67 human rights organizations spanning four continents, has endorsed a joint declaration showing support for the weekly “No Death Penalty Tuesdays” hunger strikes taking place in Iranian prisons. The declaration calls for an immediate cessation of all executions in Iran, with the ultimate goal of abolishing the death penalty. It also urges the international community to back the growing movement against capital punishment in Iran.

Ten political prisoners in Karaj’s Ghezelhesar Prison, including Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb, Loghman Aminpour, and others, initiated these hunger strikes on January 30, 2024, in protest against the weekly mass executions at the prison. These hunger strikes, initially termed “Black Tuesdays” and later known as “No Death Penalty Tuesdays,” have since spread to 17 other prisons across the country. This protest, now in its 31st week, underscores the persistent resistance of these prisoners against the death penalty despite facing violent repression.

JFINGO Operations Director, Omid Shams, said: “Iranian political prisoners, despite facing constant pressure, continue to lead inspiring campaigns against the death penalty, playing a crucial role in the human rights movement. Their efforts to combat the alarming number of executions in Iran send a powerful message. The Iranian human rights community stands firmly behind these courageous defenders, offering them unwavering support.”

According to reports from Iran Human Rights, by August 26, 2024, at least 396 individuals had been executed in Iran.

Download the Statement

Solidarity with the “No Death Penalty Tuesdays” Movement

During the first 20 days of August, an individual was executed every six hours in Iranian prisons. The number of executions has increased annually since 2021, with at least 834 executions recorded in 2023 and 395 by August 26, 2024. A significant portion of these executions was related to drug charges, disproportionately affecting marginalized and ethnic minority groups, particularly Kurds and Baluchis.

The Islamic Republic utilizes the death penalty as a tool of political repression, often delivering death sentences after unfair trials lacking basic due process.

After witnessing the relentless weekly executions in Karaj and the execution of several political prisoners in January 2024, a group of brave political prisoners in Ghezelhesar Prison initiated a protest, which was harshly suppressed. This diverse group, representing various backgrounds and beliefs, began the weekly hunger strikes on January 30, initially naming them “Black Tuesdays” before the term “No Death Penalty Tuesdays” gained prominence. Tuesdays were chosen as it is the day death row prisoners are usually transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for execution at Ghezelhesar Prison.

These mass hunger strikes have now entered their 31st week, spreading to 17 other prisons across Iran. Despite violent crackdowns, the participants remain steadfast in their demands to end the death penalty.

We, the undersigned organizations, express our solidarity with and support for the “No Death Penalty Tuesdays” movement in Iranian prisons. We call for an immediate halt to all executions with the aim of abolishing the death penalty in Iran and urge the international community to support the expanding abolitionist movement in the country.

The “No Death Penalty Tuesdays” hunger strikes were initiated by political prisoners in Ghezelhesar, including Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb, Loghman Aminpour, Meisam Dahbanzadeh, Jafar Ebrahimi, Sepehr Emam Jomeh, Ahmadreza Haeri, Reza Mohammad Hosseini, Saeed Masouri, Reza Salmanzadeh, and Hamzeh Savari, listed in alphabetical order.

Signatories:

1. Justice for Iran
2. Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO)
3. World Coalition Against the Death Penalty (WCADP)
4. Impact Iran
5. Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM)
6. Defenders of Human Rights Center (Shirin Ebadi)
7. Harm Reduction International
8. World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)
9. Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
10. Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN)
11. International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute
12. 6Rang (Iranian Lesbian and Transgender Network)
13. Kurdistan Human Rights Association-Geneva (KMMK-G)
14. International Educational Development, Inc (IED)
15. Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran
16. Kurdistan Human Rights Network
17. Haal Vsh
18. Center for Human Rights in Iran
19. Balochistan Human Right group
20. Rasank
21. Iran Human Rights Documentation Center
22. United for Iran
23. Kurdpa Human Rights Organization
24. HANA Human Rights Organization
25. Siamak Pourzand Foundation
26. Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation
27. Baloch Activists Campaign
28. Association for the human rights of the Azerbaijani people in Iran (Ahraz)
29. Hengaw Organization for Human Rights
30. Hands off Cain
31. The Advocates for Human Rights, USA
32. ARTICLE 19
33. Justice Project Pakistan
34. European Saudi Organization for Human Rights (ESOHR)
35. Odhikar, Bangladesh
36. Cornell Center on the Death Penalty, USA
37. PEN America
38. German Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (GCADP)
39. The Italian Federation for Human Rights (FIDU)
40. Death Penalty Focus, USA
41. The Christian Union for Progress and Human Rights, DRC
42. Capital Punishment Justice Project, Australia
43. Amnesty International (Group 205), Dallas
44. Human Rights Dallas
45. Southern Methodist University Human Rights Program, USA
46. Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG), South Korea
47. Witness to Innocence, USA
48. Human Rights Association (İnsan Hakları Derneği – İHD), Türkiye
49. Redemption Pakistan
50. ACAT, Ghana
51. French Collective Free Mumia, France
52. Function 8, Singapore
53. Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Masyarakat, Indonesia
54. International Committee Against Execution (ICAE)
55. Campaign to Free Political Prisoners in Iran (CFPPI)
56. United Against Gender Apartheid
57. Global Campaign to Stop Executions In Iran
58. All Human Rights for All in Iran
59. Defence of Human Rights in Iran (LDDHI)
60. Iranian Citizens’ Initiative Saar (IRBIS)
61. Parsi Law Collective
62. NIKA, Network of Iranians for Liberty and Democracy
63. Iranian’s Socio-Cultural Center of Quebec Simorgh
64. Global Network to Free Political Prisoners in Iran
65. Free Iran Switzerland
66. Solidarity with the women’s revolution of Freedom Life Frankfurt Mainz and Wiesbaden
67. Alliance for Freedom, Washington DC
68. Iranian Medical Society for Human Rights and Democracy (Berlin MED)