UN Rapporteur Gina Romero Joins "No to Execution Tuesdays"

Gina Romero, UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, announced that she will join the “No to Execution Tuesdays” hunger strike campaign on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in solidarity with political prisoners in Iran. Mai Sato, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, reposted Romero’s message, describing it as an “important post”

Iran Human Rights Society, Monday, October 12, 2026

Gina Romero, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, warned against the use of the death penalty against protesters in Iran while announcing her participation in the hunger strike of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign. This action is set to take place on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, amid reports that the “No to Execution” campaign has expanded its reach to 66 prisons in recent weeks.

Gina Romero: Executions Must Not Be the Response to Protests

In a video published on Sunday, October 11, on the X social media platform, Romero announced that she will join the hunger strike on Tuesday to show solidarity with prisoners striking against the death penalty. She also criticized the use of capital punishment against

individuals who have merely exercised their fundamental rights to freedom of assembly, association, expression, and political participation.

In her message, Romero emphasized that the death penalty is, in some instances, being deployed against individuals simply exercising rights related to freedom of assembly, association, expression, and political participation. This position directly links opposition to the death penalty with the right to peaceful assembly and protest.

Ms. Romero further criticized unlawful arrests, unfair trials, and violations of prisoners’ rights in her message, calling for an immediate halt to executions and a review of death sentences issued through unfair judicial proceedings.

Warning Regarding the Execution of 46 Protesters

The UN Special Rapporteur announced in her message that at least 46 protesters have been executed since March. Romero described this figure as the highest number of political executions in nearly four decades, based on the Special Rapporteur’s own statements.

She also referred to the suppression of the January 2026 protests, mentioning the killing of thousands of protesters. Romero called for independent monitoring of the condition of prisoners at risk of execution, stressing that death sentences issued in proceedings where fair trial guarantees were not observed must be reviewed.

These positions follow prior warnings issued by Mai Sato regarding the implementation of death sentences in Iran. On September 28, Sato called for a moratorium to halt executions in Iran pending full abolition of the death penalty, stating that she would publish details of cases involving individuals at risk of execution by the World Day Against the Death Penalty.

Mai Sato Supports Romero’s Message

Mai Sato, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, reposted Gina Romero’s message on the X social media platform.

According to reports published regarding the two messages, Mai Sato described Romero’s post as an “important post” in her reaction. This response highlights that the issue of protesting the execution of demonstrators and supporting prisoners participating in the “No to Execution” campaign has drawn the attention of two UN Special Rapporteurs.

Mai Sato had previously warned about the situation of individuals facing the risk of execution, including cases involving protesters, individuals sentenced for drug-related offenses, and those sentenced under “Qisas” (retribution) within her framework of follow-up.

Names of Prisoners and Protesters at Risk of Execution

In her message, while expressing solidarity with the families of executed protesters, Romero named Alireza Sepahi, Alireza Raeisi, Siavash Jamshidi Kheirabadi, Ali Hemmati, Majid Nikandish, and Mehdi Khanki.

She also warned of the execution risk facing Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani, a former boxing champion and coach, Shervin Bagherian, and two imprisoned brothers, Hamidreza and Abdolreza Fathi. Romero concluded her message with a call to halt executions.

Among the names raised, Ali Hemmati and Majid Nikandish were executed on September 30, 2026—a development that has once again heightened concerns regarding the speed of protester executions and the judicial processing of their cases.

“No to Execution Tuesdays” Across 66 Prisons

The “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign began in January 2024 with a hunger strike by prisoners sentenced to death in Ghezel Hesar Prison and gradually expanded to other facilities. According to the campaign’s latest statement, in its 141st week, prisoners across 66 prisons in Iran participated in the hunger strike.

This list includes facilities such as Evin, Ghezel Hesar, Greater Tehran Prison, Qarchak, Choobindar Qazvin, Arak, Dastgerd Isfahan, Sheiban Ahvaz, Adelabad Shiraz, Zahedan, Mashhad, Rasht, Urmia, Tabriz, Sanandaj, and numerous other prisons.

Over recent weeks, the “No to Execution” campaign has emphasized halting capital punishment, defending the right to life, and the necessity of practical action against rising execution rates. The campaign has also called on civil society, seeking-justice families, human rights activists, and death penalty opponents inside and outside Iran to support the striking prisoners.

Romero’s Participation: Expanding Solidarity with Prisoners

Gina Romero’s announced participation in the “No to Execution Tuesdays” hunger strike is not the first time an official with a UN special mandate has expressed empathy with the campaign. However, the direct participation of a UN Special Rapporteur in a hunger strike from outside prison has drawn heightened attention to the condition of prisoners sentenced to death.

The “No to Execution” campaign enters a new phase of activity as the number of participating prisons reaches 66 facilities, and the topic of protester executions is reflected in the messages and actions of UN experts. By declaring her solidarity, Romero has called for an end to execution orders and attention to the rights of prisoners facing the death penalty.

Legal Review of the Case Based on Domestic Laws

Reviewing these circumstances under domestic statutes does not signify an endorsement of existing legal frameworks, but serves to demonstrate that even internal statutory regulations are being directly bypassed.

Relevant Statutory Provisions

Article 27 of the Constitution: Guarantees the right to form public assemblies and marches without weapons, provided they do not violate fundamental principles.
Article 32 of the Constitution: Mandates strictly legal procedures for arrest and prompt notification of charges.
Article 35 of the Constitution: Guarantees the right of all citizens to retain legal counsel across all stages of judicial proceedings.
Article 38 of the Constitution: Expressly forbids all forms of physical and psychological torture, declaring coerced confessions legally void.

Procedural Violations

Issuing capital punishment sentences following unlawful arrests, unfair trial procedures lacking defense representation, and suppressing peaceful public assemblies violate statutory protections codified under domestic law.

Human Rights Violations Highlighted by UN Mandate Holders

The state’s use of capital punishment against protesters conflicts directly with international human rights standards:

Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): Guarantees the right to life, liberty, and security of person.
Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): Strictly prohibits torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
Article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): Entitles everyone to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal.
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): Protects the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): Guarantees the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

Executing individuals for participating in peaceful assemblies or expressing dissent, combined with non-compliance with fair trial standards, constitutes an arbitrary deprivation of life and underscores the urgent requirement for international oversight.

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