UN Special Rapporteur Joins ‘No to Execution Tuesdays’ Hunger Strike as Campaign Enters Week 143 Across 66 Iranian Prisons
The Bam Prison in southeast Iran
Written by
Safora Sadidi Mohammadi
The “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign released its latest statement on October 20, 2026, marking its 143rd consecutive week of strike activity. Inmates across 66 prisons throughout Iran conducted coordinated hunger strikes to protest a mounting wave of state-sanctioned executions and persistent judicial repression.
Second UN Special Rapporteur Joins Hunger Strike
In a major international development, Leopoldo Maldonado, the newly appointed UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, joined the hunger strike campaign in solidarity. Maldonado’s endorsement follows UN Special Rapporteur Gina Romero joining the strike the previous week. The statement also noted recent endorsements from civil society groups, including the “Mothers of Reconciliation of Kurdistan” (Maderan-e Ashti), reflecting growing alignment between political prisoners and domestic advocacy networks.
The statement underscored that support for the movement continues to expand despite intense state pressure: “Mr. Leopoldo Maldonado, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, also joined the ‘No to Execution Tuesdays’ campaign this week in protest against executions in Iran. A few days ago, the ‘Mothers of Reconciliation of Kurdistan’ also joined this campaign.”
I have begun my solidarity action in support of political prisoners in Iran and those participating in #NoToExecutionTuesdays#hungerstrike
I stand with those facing persecution for their political opinions, expression and peaceful dissent, and reiterate my call for an immediate… pic.twitter.com/YF6WCVyeIX
— Leopoldo Maldonado (@SRfreedex_LMG) October 19, 2026
Over 70 Executions Recorded in Three Weeks
The campaign drew attention to an accelerated execution rate, recording at least 72 state executions since late September 2026. Organizers highlighted recent warnings issued by Amnesty International regarding 20 protesters from the January 2026 uprising who face imminent execution, alongside reports that at least 34 other demonstrators from that movement have already been executed.
The statement also raised serious concerns over political prisoner Varisheh Moradi, whose death sentence was recently reaffirmed by the judiciary despite previously being overturned by the Supreme Court: “The tyrannical ruling government has hanged at least 72 people since late September, and many prisoners, particularly those detained during the January 2026 uprising, remain at imminent risk of receiving and facing execution sentences… In the past week, the death sentence of political prisoner Varisheh Moradi, which had previously been overturned by the Supreme Court, was reaffirmed.”
#NoToExecutionTuesdays https://t.co/gx56NpR4db
— Oleksandra Matviichuk (@avalaina) October 20, 2026
A Symbol of National Resistance
Reflecting on the ongoing strikes across 66 penal facilities, campaign organizers characterized the weekly action as an enduring stance against the state’s judicial apparatus and urged global civil society to join their call: “The widespread support in recent days for the campaign and opposition to the death penalty on the occasion of World Day Against the Death Penalty showed that the voice of protest against this anti-human punishment continues to grow louder, and solidarity with prisoners sentenced to death is expanding.”
According to campaign monitors, coordinated hunger strikes for Week 143 took place on October 20, 2026, across both male and female wards in the following 66 prisons:
Tehran & Alborz: Evin (Men’s & Women’s Wards), Ghezel Hesar (Units 2, 3 & 4), Karaj Central, Fardis Karaj, Greater Tehran, Qarchak, and Khorin Varamin.
At least 46 political prisoners executed since March this year. Iran goes about its barbarity daily, against its own people. https://t.co/rdfE5yAWqY
— Sharron Davies HoL MBE (@sharrond62) October 20, 2026
Isfahan & Central: Asadabad Isfahan, Dastgerd Isfahan, Arak, and Choobindar Qazvin.
Fars, Kohgiluyeh & Boyer-Ahmad: Adelabad Shiraz (Men’s & Women’s Wards), Shiraz Military Prison, Firozabad Fars, Yasuj, Dehdasht, and Gachsaran.
Khuzestan, Bushehr, Lorestan & Hormozgan: Sheiban Ahvaz, Sepidar Ahvaz (Men’s & Women’s Wards), Ramhormoz, Behbahan, Khorramabad, Borujerd, Borazjan, and Bandar Abbas.
Sistan & Baluchestan, Kerman & Yazd: Zahedan (Men’s & Women’s Wards), Iranshahr, Bam, Kahnuj, Kerman, Yazd (Men’s & Women’s Wards), and Tabas.
Gorgan & Khorasan Provinces: Mashhad, Sabzevar, Gonbad-e Kavus, Nishapur, Central Birjand, and Gorgan.
Sammen med en række andre medlemmer af EU Parlamente viste jeg i dag min solidaritet med de politiske fanger i Iran og krævede et øjeblikkeligt stop for henrettelserne her. pic.twitter.com/5UhAPvaXjd
— Per Clausen (@PerClausen3) October 20, 2026
Caspian Coast (Gilan & Mazandaran): Rasht (Men’s & Women’s Wards), Rudsar, Haviq Talesh, Ezbaram Lahijan, Ziabar Sowme’eh Sara, Qaemshahr, and Noor.
Kermanshah, Ilam & Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari: Dizelabad Kermanshah, Ilam, Darreh Shahr, and Borujen.
Northwest & Kurdish Regions (Azerbaijan, Kurdistan & Qom): Ardabil, Meshgin Shahr, Tabriz, Urmia, Salmas, Khoy, Naqadeh, Miandoab, Mahabad, Bukan, Saqqez, Baneh, Marivan, Sanandaj, Kamyaran, Ahar, and Langarud Qom.