In Support and Solidarity with "Tuesdays Against Execution" in Iran

In the first 20 days of August, an average of one person has been executed every six hours in Iranian prisons. Since 2021, the number of executions has increased each year, with at least 834 people executed in 2023. The Iran Human Rights Organization has documented and confirmed at least 395 executions as of August 26, 2024. Executions related to drug offenses remain the highest in number. Marginalized groups and ethnic minorities, especially Kurds and Baluchis, constitute a high percentage of those executed relative to their population.

The Islamic Republic uses the death penalty as a tool for political repression, and death sentences are issued in courts that do not adhere to minimum standards of due process and judicial proceedings. Following mass executions in Karaj and the execution of political prisoners, a group of courageous political prisoners in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj protested against the executions in January 2024; their protest was met with violent repression. These political prisoners, with varying beliefs and orientations, have been on a weekly hunger strike since January 30, known as "Black Tuesdays" and "Tuesdays Against Execution" Tuesday was chosen because condemned prisoners are usually transferred to solitary confinement for execution on this day.

This weekly hunger strike has now reached its 31st week and has expanded to 17 other prisons in Iran. Despite brutal repression, the participants remain steadfast in their demand for an end to executions.

We, the signatories of this statement, express our solidarity and support for the "Tuesdays Against Execution" movement in Iranian prisons. We call for the cessation of all executions in Iran and urge the international community to support the growing "Abolish the Death Penalty" movement in Iran.

The prisoners who initiated this campaign, listed alphabetically: Jafar Ebrahimi, Zartosht Ahmadi-Ragheb, Sepehr Imam Jomeh, Loqman Aminpour, Ahmadreza Haeri, Meysam Dehbanzadeh, Reza Salmanzadeh, Hamzeh Savari, Saeed Masouri, and Reza Mohammad Hosseini

Signatories:
1. Iran Human Rights Organization
2. World Coalition Against the Death Penalty
3. Impact Iran
4. Together Against the Death Penalty
5. Center for Defenders of Human Rights (Shirin Ebadi)
6. International Harm Reduction Organization
7. World Organization Against Torture
8. International Federation for Human Rights
9. Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network
10. International Lawyers for Human Rights
11. Justice for Iran
12. Six Colors (Network of Iranian Lesbians and Transgender People)
13. Kurdistan Human Rights Association - Geneva
14. International Educational Development
15. Abdol Rahman Boroumand Foundation for Human Rights in Iran
16. Kurdish Human Rights Network
17. Halwash
18. Iran Human Rights Campaign
19. Baluch Human Rights Group
20. Rasanak
21. Iran Human Rights Documentation Center
22. Union for Iran
23. Kurdish Human Rights Organization (Kurdpa)
24. Hana Human Rights Organization
25. Siamak Pourzand Foundation
26. Human Rights Organization of Ahvaz
27. Baloch Activists Campaign
28. Azerbaijan Human Rights Organization in Iran - Ahraz
29. Hangaw Human Rights Organization
30. Don't Touch Qabil
31. Human Rights Defenders, USA
32. Article 19
33. Pakistan Justice Project
34. European Saudi Organization for Human Rights
35. Odikar, Bangladesh
36. Cornell Center on the Death Penalty, USA
37. PEN American Center
38. German Coalition Against the Death Penalty
39. Italian Federation for Human Rights
40. Focus on the Death Penalty, USA
41. Christian Union for the Advancement and Defense of Human Rights
42. Death Penalty 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, South Korea
47. Witness to Innocence, USA
48. Human Rights Association, Turkey
49. Restorative Pakistan
50. ACAT, Ghana
51. French Group "Let’s Free Mumia!"
52. Function 8, Singapore

53. Public Interest Law Institute, Indonesia
54. International Committee Against the Death Penalty
55. Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners
56. Coalition Against Gender Apartheid in Iran and Afghanistan
57. Global Campaign Against the Death Penalty in Iran
58. All Human Rights for All in Iran
59. Human Rights Defense Community in Iran
60. Iranian Citizens' Initiative Sar (Airbase)
61. Parsila Legal-International Network
62. Nika, Network of Iranians Seeking Freedom and Democracy
63. Simorgh Kebec Association
64. Global Network for the Freedom of Political and Belief Prisoners in Iran
65. Free Iran, Switzerland
66. Solidarity Group with the Woman Life Freedom Revolution - Frankfurt, Mainz, and Wiesbaden
67. Union for Freedom, Washington DC
68. Iranian Medical Society for Democracy and Human Rights, Berlin