After Women Imprisoned in Lakan Rasht, Men in This Prison Also Joined the 'No to Execution Tuesdays' Campaign

A group of male political prisoners in Lakan Rasht prison announced on Sunday, August 5, that they are joining the nationwide hunger strike of political prisoners in protest against death sentences and the 'No to Execution Tuesdays' campaign. Eleven male political prisoners in their statement described the death penalty as a 'medieval' punishment that neither allows the accused to face the consequences of their actions nor leaves room for appeal in the judicial system. They considered the executions in the Islamic Republic as a form of 'state-sanctioned murder' and stated, 'This becomes even more frightening when the government uses executions as a tool to instill fear in society.' Previously, on Wednesday, August 1, a number of female political prisoners in Lakan Rasht had joined the striking prisoners in the 'No to Execution Tuesdays' campaign. The hunger strike of a group of prisoners protesting the issuance and implementation of death sentences in the Islamic Republic, held every Tuesday, is known as the 'Black Tuesdays' or 'No to Execution Tuesdays' campaign. This campaign began on January 29, 2023, initiated by several political prisoners in Qezel Hesar prison in Karaj, and has gradually gained support from civil and political activists in other prisons, with more announcing their participation. Following the nationwide protests in 2022 known as the 'Women, Life, Freedom' uprising, the government has increased the issuance and implementation of death sentences to further suppress protesters and create an atmosphere of fear and terror. A source close to the members of the 'No to Execution Tuesdays' campaign in Qezel Hesar prison told Voice of America last week that the weekly hunger strike in protest against the issuance and implementation of death sentences has continued for the twenty-seventh week. The deprivation of 37 female political prisoners from family visits due to protests against the death sentence of Pakhshan Aziz has emphasized the political prisoners' insistence on continuing 'No to Execution Tuesdays'; 8 female prisoners in Rasht have joined the hunger strike. Reactions to the execution of Kamran Sheikha: 'Extrajudicial murder' and 'illegal'; the Islamic Republic must be held accountable. Participation of prisoners from 16 prisons in the 'Black Tuesdays' campaign; 26 weeks of hunger strike in protest against executions in Iran. Condemnation of the death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi; dozens of activists and former political prisoners: the government wants to escape from crises. Hunger strikes in 11 prisons in Iran; members of the 'Black Tuesdays' campaign: No to execution must become a national demand.