Leopoldo Maldonado Gutiérrez, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, announced his support for the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign by declaring a 24-hour hunger strike in solidarity with political prisoners in Iran. He called for a halt to executions, the review of cases lacking fair trial guarantees, and independent investigations into prisoner torture. This action comes one week after Gina Romero, another UN Special Rapporteur, joined the same campaign
Iran Human Rights Society, Monday, October 19, 2026– Leopoldo Maldonado Gutiérrez, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, declared his support for the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign through a message published on his official X account. According to details released regarding his message, he intends to begin a 24-hour hunger strike at midnight Iran time in solidarity with political prisoners in Iran. This step continues the growing international solidarity with prisoners who express their opposition to death sentences through weekly hunger strikes every Tuesday.
Leopoldo Maldonado: Support for Striking Prisoners and Warning on Executions of Protesters
In his message, Maldonado warned against the application of the death penalty against protesters and political dissidents in Iran. He emphasized that political opinions, state criticism, peaceful protest, and organizational activities must never be categorized as capital offenses. The UN Special Rapporteur also demanded an immediate halt to executions and a comprehensive review of case files where convicts were denied fair trial guarantees. Additionally, he highlighted the necessity of independent investigations into allegations of torture and the reliance on coerced confessions in cases culminating in death sentences.
Who is the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression?
Leopoldo Maldonado Gutiérrez, a Mexican jurist, assumed his mandate as UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression on August 1, 2026. His name and title are registered in the official special procedures list of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. His mandate encompasses monitoring the status of freedom of opinion and expression globally and examining violations of these fundamental rights. His endorsement of the Iranian prisoners’ campaign brings the direct link between freedom of expression, the right to protest, and the right to life to international attention.
Text of the Statement Supporting “No to Execution Tuesdays”
The text of the support message published by Mr. Leopoldo Maldonado Gutiérrez is as follows:
Joining a 24-hour hunger strike in solidarity with political prisoners in Iran and the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign:
I join in solidarity with political prisoners in Iran participating in the “No to Execution Tuesdays” (#NoToExecutionTuesdays) campaign. Starting at 12 midnight Iran time, I will begin my 24-hour hunger strike.
The scale of politically motivated executions in Iran is alarming. Amnesty International recorded at least 2,159 executions in 2025, representing the highest annual figure documented by the organization in Iran since 1981.
In 2026, at least 34 individuals have been executed in connection with the January protests, including five individuals executed within a single week between September 30 and October 5.
Information made available to me reveals an aspect of particular concern to my mandate. Reports indicate that at least 46 political prisoners and protesters have been executed since March 19, 2026. Of these, 37 were detained during protests, while 9 others were targeted over alleged ties to opposition groups. Furthermore, more than 100 others are reported to be on death row.
Charges such as “Baghi” (armed rebellion), “Moharebeh” (enmity against God), and “Efsad-fil-Arz” (corruption on Earth) are utilized in case files where protest, expression of political opinions, and alleged opposition ties are conflated with capital offenses.
Historical precedent demonstrates that these warning signs cannot be ignored. In 1988, approximately 30,000 political prisoners were executed or forcibly disappeared, marking one of the darkest chapters in modern Iranian history. Javaid Rehman, former UN Special Rapporteur, subsequently concluded that these summary, arbitrary, and extrajudicial executions, alongside forced disappearances, constituted crimes against humanity.
Iran must immediately halt executions, commute existing death sentences to lesser punishments, review case files failing to meet fair trial standards, and investigate allegations of torture. Political opinions, criticism, peaceful protest, and organizational affiliations must never be turned into offenses punishable by death.
Gina Romero Also Joined “No to Execution Tuesdays” Campaign Last Week
Maldonado’s announcement follows the participation of Gina Romero, UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, who joined the same campaign the previous week. Romero conducted a 24-hour hunger strike on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in solidarity with Iranian political prisoners. Following the conclusion of her hunger strike, Romero reported receiving thousands of solidarity messages globally, reaffirming the urgency of ending capital
punishment against individuals exercising fundamental rights.
“No to Execution Tuesdays” Campaign: 142 Weeks of Protest in Iranian Prisons
The “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign originated in early 2024 with a hunger strike initiated by death row prisoners at Ghezel Hesar Prison and gradually expanded across the prison system. According to the latest statement, the campaign entered its 142nd week on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, with prisoners participating in hunger strikes across 66 facilities throughout Iran. Participating locations include Evin, Ghezel Hesar, Karaj Central, Dastgerd Isfahan, Adelabad Shiraz, Sheiban Ahvaz, Zahedan, Urmia, Sanandaj, and Tabriz prisons, where striking detainees demand an end to executions and international attention to death row conditions.
Growing International Support for Iranian Prisoners’ Campaign
The consecutive support of two UN Special Rapporteurs within a single week represents a notable development in the international exposure of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign. While Gina Romero addressed the issue from the standpoint of peaceful assembly and association, Leopoldo Maldonado focused on freedom of opinion and expression. Their common stance underscores the imperative to protect fundamental rights and prevent the deployment of the death penalty against political activity and peaceful protest.
See also the below articles:
- Mohtaram Parandin Denied Cancer Care in Evin Prison
- Death of Political Prisoner Behzad Rezvanmehr in Karaj Central Prison Following Torture and Denial of Medical Treatment
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