The cry of “No to Execution” echoed in 26 cities as the 70th week of the “Tuesdays Against Execution” campaign took to the streets. Families, prisoners, and protesters in 26 cities across Iran, both inside and outside prisons, staged protests against the rising wave of executions, chanting “No to Execution” in unison.
Iran Human Rights Society, Tuesday, May 27, 2025 – In the 70th week of the nationwide “Tuesdays Against Execution” campaign, the voice of protest against the enforcement of death penalties resonated across Iran once again. Families of political prisoners, young protesters, and civil activists in 26 cities took to public spaces and streets to oppose execution as a tool of repression.
This week, participants held placards and banners featuring images of prisoners sentenced to death, along with slogans such as “No to Execution,” “Abolish the Death Penalty Immediately,” “Do Not Execute,” and “No to Medieval Sentences,” demanding an end to Iran’s deadly cycle of executions.
Simultaneous Protests in Iranian Cities
This week, the cities of Tehran, Ahvaz, Mashhad, Amol, Rudsar, Sirjan, Mahshahr, Astara, Bandar Abbas, Rasht, Shahr-e Kord, Qeshm, Qom, Yazd, Neyshabur, Hamedan, Borujen, Shaft, Arak, Baharestan, Robat Karim, Shahr-e Qods, Shariyar, Shiraz, Karaj, and Malard witnessed protests. Numerous images of street gatherings, protest banners, and anti-execution chants have been shared on social media, illustrating the widespread nature of this nationwide movement.
The significant presence of families of prisoners facing execution in these cities reaffirmed that the call of “No to Execution” has transcended human rights organizations and reached the streets and the heart of society. Mothers and fathers of prisoners chanted slogans like “Do Not Execute Our Children” and “Help Iran’s Children,” standing up against this brutal policy.
Support from Women Prisoners in Evin Prison
Simultaneously with the street protests, women prisoners in the women’s ward of Evin Prison voiced their support for the “Tuesdays Against Execution” campaign by chanting slogans such as “This is the final message: If you execute, there will be an uprising” and “No to repression, no to execution, no to threats; they no longer have an effect.”
Slogans like “The execution regime will never sleep soundly” and “Political prisoners must be freed” symbolize resistance from within prison walls, breaking the barrier between inside and outside the prison and transforming the fight against execution into a national movement.
A Campaign Born in Prison, Now in the Streets
The “Tuesdays Against Execution” campaign was initially launched by political prisoners within prison walls. What began as a movement within Evin and Ghezel Hesar prisons has now grown into a widespread protest involving active participation in at least 44 prisons across the country and dozens of cities.
Reports of direct participation by prisoners have emerged from prisons including Evin, Rajai Shahr, Ghezel Hesar, Arak Central, Dieselabad Kermanshah, Dastgerd Isfahan, Sanandaj, and Langarud Qom. Prisoners have raised their voices through chanting, refusing to participate in official prison programs, and sending audio messages to express their protest.
This unity among prisoners, their families, and people on the streets has made the “Tuesdays Against Execution” campaign one of the most effective domestic protest movements.
Execution: A Tool of Repression in the Ruling Dictatorship
Execution has long been a primary tool of Iran’s ruling dictatorship to instill fear and suppress dissent. Death sentences have been issued against protesters, political activists, ethnic and religious minorities, and even juveniles as a means to control social unrest.
According to reports from international human rights organizations, Iran has one of the highest execution rates in the world. Hundreds of people were executed last year alone, many without fair trials, based on confessions extracted under torture, and without access to independent legal representation.
Ethnic and religious minorities, particularly Kurds, Baluchis, Sunnis, and Arabs, make up a significant portion of the victims of this deadly cycle. Additionally, activists detained during nationwide protests have been swiftly tried and sentenced to death.
A Nationwide Cry to Abolish Execution
What was evident in the 70th week of the “Tuesdays Against Execution” campaign was not merely a protest but a nationwide cry to end the physical elimination of dissenters, stop the bloodshed, and reclaim the right to life.
This cry now resonates from prison cells, the heart of the streets, and the voices of families whose loved ones face the gallows. It has shattered the boundaries between politics, civil society, and grassroots resistance.
A Clear Message from the Campaign: Do Not Execute
The “Tuesdays Against Execution” campaign has shown that protest in Iran is alive. Amidst an unprecedented wave of repression, this campaign has restored hope to families and created a national network of solidarity against the policy of execution.
In its 70th week, the campaign’s message is clear: Do not execute. This is not just a demand for justice but a stand against fear, violence, and injustice.
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