Fourth Week of the 'Black Tuesdays' Campaign; Continued Hunger Strike of Political Prisoners in Protest Against Death Sentences

Reports from human rights organizations indicate that a large number of political prisoners held in various prisons across Iran are continuing their hunger strike for the fourth consecutive week in solidarity with prisoners at Qezel Hesar prison and in protest against the ongoing issuance and execution of death sentences. According to these reports, prisoners in Evin, Khorramabad, Shiraz, Karaj, and Saqqez will join the 'Black Tuesdays' campaign, standing against executions, and will begin their hunger strike on Tuesday, March 1. This hunger strike occurs as a lawyer, Payam Darvishan, recently reported the trial of four citizens arrested during the nationwide protests of 2021, named Mehdi Hosseini, Mehdi Imani, Navid Najaran, and Milad Armon, in the case known as 'Ekbatān Town,' facing charges of moharebeh (waging war against God) and complicity in premeditated murder. He noted the deteriorating mental health condition of these individuals in Qezel Hesar prison in light of recent executions. Recently, death sentences have been issued for Mawlawi Mohammad Khodrnejad, a Sunni cleric accused of 'corruption on earth' in the city of Boukan in Kurdistan province, for Shahab Nadali, a political prisoner accused of baghi (rebellion) in Evin prison, and for four Baluch prisoners named Ghani Shahbakhsh, Soleiman Shahbakhsh, Abdul Rahim Qanbarzahi (Mir Baloch Zahi), and Aido Shahbakhsh in Qezel Hesar prison. The prisoners held in Qezel Hesar have expressed their protest against these death sentences during the fourth week of the 'Black Tuesdays' campaign and their hunger strike. Meanwhile, the judiciary of the Islamic Republic announced on Monday, February 19, that Babak Zanjani, who was sentenced to death for 'embezzlement and financial corruption,' may be released after 10 years upon 'paying his debts.' The U.S. State Department condemned the increase in executions in Iran on February 28, following the execution of four young protesters by the Islamic Republic, stating that the United States will continue to coordinate with its allies and partners to support the Iranian people facing relentless human rights violations by the Islamic Republic. The possibility of pardon for the 'economic corruptor' sentenced to death; Ejei: Babak Zanjani's assets will cover his debts and damages. A letter from dozens of Kurdish clerics to Mohseni Ejei: Cancel the death sentence for Mawlawi Mohammad Khodrnejad. Iran Human Rights Organization: 90 prisoners in Zanjan are 'on death row.' Mujahid Korkor, a death-sentenced prisoner in Ahvaz, has been deprived of 'phone calls and visits.' A meeting for 'justice-seeking for the victims of the 1988 massacre'; Javide Rahman criticized the 'complete lack of accountability' of human rights violators in Iran. Action against executions; 10 civil organizations joined the weekly hunger strike of political prisoners in Iran.