Iran’s Anti-execution Campaign Reaches Week 140 as Hunger Strikes Expand to 66 Prisons

Staff Writer3 hours ago
Iran’s Anti-execution Campaign Reaches Week 140 as Hunger Strikes Expand to 66 Prisons
Meshgin Shahr Prison — aerial view of the correctional facility in Meshgin Shahr

Meshgin Shahr Prison — aerial view of the correctional facility in Meshgin Shahr, Ardebil Province, Iran
Written by
Safora Sadidi Mohammadi

The “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign issued its latest statement on September 29, 2026, marking its 140th consecutive week of protest. Organizers announced that the movement has expanded to 66 prisons across Iran following the joining of inmates in Darreh Shahr Prison in Ilam province and Meshgin Shahr Prison in Ardebil province.

Timed with the start of the new academic year, the campaign commemorated students, teachers, and professors who lost their lives over the past four decades, paying special tribute to those killed during the January 2026 nationwide uprising.

The statement raised alarm over a massive wave of death sentences currently targeting political and ideological prisoners, particularly those arrested in connection with recent protests: “According to received information, nearly 200 political-ideological prisoners—many of whom were detained during the nationwide uprising of January 2026—are currently under sentence of death. This situation reflects the blatant suppression of the Iranian people by a religious fascist regime that knows no boundaries in repression, killing, and executions.”

Organizers emphasized that the continued growth of the movement inside prisons underscores widespread public opposition to capital punishment and the state judicial system: “The expansion of this campaign and the support for it demonstrate the deep hatred of society towards executions, as well as the illegitimacy of the government and its judicial apparatus—a system that issues death sentences in its kangaroo courts under anti-human, medieval laws without granting the bare minimum right to defense.”

Expressing gratitude to domestic and international supporters, the campaign urged continued public pressure to halt state executions: “To stop the execution machine and prevent further tragedies, it is vital that the call ‘No to Execution’ be louder and more widespread than ever. Every street and every opportunity must be utilized to expose the crimes of this medieval government and take practical steps to stop it.”

According to campaign monitors, coordinated hunger strikes for Week 140 were conducted on September 29, 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.
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.
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.

Staff Writer3 hours ago
Arab-Islamic Committee in Defence of Ashraf
Back to top button