Hunger Strike in 56 Prisons Marks 117th Week of “No to Executions” Campaign in Iran

Staff Writer3 hours ago
Political prisoners across Iran launched a coordinated hunger strike

Security forces inspect the outer perimeter of Chubindar Prison in Qazvin, north-central Iran
Written by
Safora Sadidi Mohammadi

Political prisoners across Iran launched a coordinated hunger strike in 56 prisons on Tuesday, marking the 117th consecutive week of the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign, as concerns grow over an accelerating wave of executions.

In a statement issued on the same day, the campaign warned of a sharp increase in death sentences and executions, declaring: “We hold the 117th week of the campaign while just yesterday the ruling authorities executed two more political prisoners.”

The campaign described the executions as part of a broader effort to suppress dissent, stating that authorities are attempting to justify them by linking detainees to foreign actors: “They desperately try to accuse these prisoners of espionage and links to Israel to justify executions under wartime conditions.”

It added that such accusations are “baseless” and have instead “further intensified public anger.”

Violent raid on political prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison
The statement also revealed new details about a violent crackdown inside Ghezel Hesar Prison, one of the country’s largest detention facilities. According to the report, on the night of March 29, dozens of prison forces carried out a raid on Ward 4, targeting political prisoners—many of whom were members of the campaign.

“They attacked the ward in a brutal and inhumane manner, beating prisoners and transferring all of them to solitary confinement.”

The campaign stated that six prisoners were subsequently executed: “They were hanged while their legal process had not yet been completed, without a final meeting with their families and in complete secrecy.”

The statement identified those executed as including Vahid Bani Amerian, Pouya Ghobadi, Akbar Daneshvar Kar, Babak Alipour, Mohammad Taghavi, and Abolhassan Montazer.

Executions carried out without notice, families denied information
The campaign further reported additional executions carried out under similar conditions. It stated that four detainees from the January 2026 protests were also executed “in complete secrecy and without prior notification,” naming them as: Amirhossein Hatami, Mohammad Amin Biglari, Shahin Vahedparast, and Ali Fahim.

According to the statement, authorities have refused to return the bodies of those executed: “The authorities have not handed over the bodies to their families, subjecting them to psychological torture.”

The campaign also cited figures indicating that at least 12 political prisoners were executed in April alone, describing it as a systematic escalation.

Campaign warns of systematic use of executions to suppress unrest
The statement links the surge in executions to broader political conditions, arguing that authorities are using the current environment to intensify repression.

“At a time when war and its consequences dominate the situation, the authorities carry out systematic executions to create fear and prevent uprising.”

It added that many detainees from recent protests remain in solitary confinement: “Dozens of young prisoners are being held in isolation… and their lives are in serious danger.”

The campaign emphasized that the demand to end executions reflects a wider social sentiment, describing it as “the public demand of the people of Iran.”

Call for action as protests continue inside prisons
Marking the 117th week of coordinated action, the campaign confirmed that prisoners in dozens of facilities—including Evin, Ghezel Hesar, Greater Tehran, and Adelabad—are participating in the hunger strike.

It called on international organizations to intervene: “We call on all human rights institutions and international bodies to take urgent and practical action to save the lives of political prisoners under death sentences.”

At the same time, it urged continued protest despite restrictions: “We ask all activists… not to be intimidated and to protest in any possible way against these executions.”

The statement concluded with a message underscoring the persistence of the movement: “The future belongs to those who have paid the price for freedom.”

Staff Writer3 hours ago
Arab-Islamic Committee in Defence of Ashraf
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