On Tuesday, November 5, the “No Execution Tuesdays” campaign marked its 41st week with a powerful statement, reporting that since the start of the Persian month of Aban, nearly 56 people have been executed in Iran, including at least 23 in the last week alone. This grim statistic underscores the concerning rise in executions throughout the country, sparking outrage among human rights activists and international observers.
The statement strongly condemned the recent execution of Arvin Gahremani, a Jewish prisoner, in Kermanshah’s Dizalabad prison, characterizing the legal process in his case as “unfair and ambiguous.” The campaign emphasized the urgency of addressing systemic flaws within Iran’s judicial proceedings, particularly concerning ethnic and religious minorities, whose cases often lack transparency and fair treatment.
The campaign also voiced alarm over the fate of eight young individuals arrested during the 2022 protests in the Ekbatan case. Their trial, held behind closed doors, has heightened concerns about the possibility of death sentences being issued, given the severity of the charges against them.
The statement further revealed that four Baloch citizens—Eidu Shahbakhsh, Abdol Ghani Shahbakhsh, Abdul Rahim Qanbarzehi, and Soleiman Shahbakhsh—are also facing imminent execution. Sentenced to death by Iran’s Supreme Court, their cases have been fast-tracked for execution. This, the campaign warned, could mean that their lives may be at risk any day.
Over recent weeks, the “No Execution Tuesdays” initiative has grown substantially, expanding into 24 prisons across Iran. This widespread reach demonstrates the determination of activists and prisoners alike, with substantial support from both domestic and international communities. This collective opposition reflects a growing resolve among the Iranian people to seek the abolition of the death penalty, especially for cases perceived to lack judicial fairness.
The authors of the statement, themselves incarcerated, urged Iranian activists to stand united in opposition to capital punishment. They called for collective resistance and transparency to expose and hold accountable those responsible for these executions. The campaign emphasized that achieving meaningful change will require sustained activism and solidarity across various sectors of society.
In its final remarks, the statement announced a planned strike within 24 prisons in Iran as part of the 41st week of the “No Execution Tuesdays” campaign. Participating prisons include Evin (women’s ward, wards 4 and 8), Qezel Hesar (units 3 and 4), Karaj Central Prison, the Great Tehran Penitentiary, and numerous other facilities across the country, from Khorramabad and Isfahan to Rasht and Urmia.
A Surge in Executions in 2024
As of November 2024, Iran has carried out at least 503 executions this year. These figures reveal a marked increase, with 300 executions recorded in just the first seven months of the year. In July alone, 49 people were executed—a stark increase in the monthly execution rate. The trend continued into August, with reports indicating that at least 33 people were executed in a 24-hour period beginning on August 6, 2024.
October saw the highest recorded executions in recent years, totaling 170, an 85% increase compared to October 2023, when 92 executions were documented. The final days of October were particularly alarming, with 25 executions reported between October 28 and 31 alone.
The majority of these executions have been linked to drug-related offenses, accounting for approximately 172 of the total cases. Human rights organizations have raised urgent concerns regarding Iran’s increasing use of the death penalty, particularly against ethnic minorities and political dissidents. This trend underscores the pressing need for greater transparency, accountability, and a re-evaluation of Iran’s capital punishment policies.
The “No Execution Tuesdays” campaign has become a critical voice within this context, amplifying the call for judicial reform and the abolition of capital punishment in Iran. As international attention mounts, the campaign continues to advocate for a united, persistent opposition to what it views as an unjust and inhumane practice that disproportionately affects marginalized communities.
Source » iranintl