Campaign 'Tuesdays No to Execution': 40 Executions in the Past Week; Risk of Execution for Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh and Saman Mohammadi Khiyareh

The campaign 'Tuesdays No to Execution' announced in a statement on December 18, which was obtained by Voice of America, that at least 40 people have been executed in Iran in the past week during the 47th week of hunger strikes by prisoners in 27 prisons across the country. The imprisoned members of the campaign also expressed concern over the potential confirmation of the death sentences for two political prisoners named Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh and Saman Mohammadi Khiyareh. The statement, citing reports, adds that at least 40 people were executed in Iran last week, some of whom were hanged on drug-related charges. This comes as a factory linked to the Islamic Republic of Iran was discovered following the fall of Assad's regime in Syria, which had been storing and distributing tons of drugs to other parts of the world. Activists of this campaign emphasize that executions for possessing a few grams of drugs occur while this trade continues to thrive on a large scale through intermediaries linked to the Islamic Republic. The statement regarding the execution situation last week noted that Sistan and Baluchestan province, which has always faced pressure and deprivation, was among the areas with the highest number of executions that week, with at least 10 residents of this province executed. Additionally, the situation of political prisoners in Qazalhasar prison has raised concerns. Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh, who was sentenced to death on vague charges of 'espionage', has been transferred to this prison, and there is a possibility of his sentence being confirmed and carried out. On the other hand, Saman Mohammadi Khiyareh, another political prisoner who has been imprisoned for 15 years, has been moved to solitary confinement, raising fears of his execution as well. The statement reported that in continuation of protests against the death penalty, prisoners in Tabas prison in South Khorasan and Khourin Varamin announced through letters that they would join the 'Tuesdays No to Execution' campaign and will be on hunger strike every Tuesday. According to the authors of the statement, with this action, the number of participating prisons in this campaign has increased to 27, which are as follows: Evin Prison (women's ward, wards 4 and 8), Qazalhasar Prison (units 3 and 4), Central Karaj Prison, Greater Tehran Prison, Arak Prison, Khorramabad Prison, Asadabad Isfahan Prison, Dashtgerd Isfahan Prison, Shiban Ahvaz Prison, Nazem Shiraz Prison, Bam Prison, Kahnouj Prison, Mashhad Prison, Qaemshahr Prison, Rasht Prison (men's and women's wards), Ardabil Prison, Tabriz Prison, Urmia Prison, Salmas Prison, Khoy Prison, Naqdeh Prison, Saqez Prison, Baneh Prison, Marivan Prison, Kamyaran Prison, Tabas Prison, and Khourin Varamin Prison. The 'Tuesdays No to Execution' campaign began last year with the aim of abolishing the death penalty and ending governmental violence, initiated by a number of political prisoners and gradually expanded with the support of other prisoners.