Hunger Strike of Dozens of Female Prisoners Demanding Halt to Executions and Release of Political Prisoners

Dozens of female political and ideological prisoners in Evin Prison have gone on hunger strike coinciding with the presence of representatives of the Islamic Republic at the United Nations General Assembly and in line with the 'Tuesdays No to Execution' campaign. According to a report published on Tuesday, September 25, on the social media page attributed to Golrokh Iraee, a political prisoner, '45 female political-ideological prisoners in Evin Prison have gone on hunger strike.' The report also states that 'since Monday, four female prisoners have staged a sit-in and hunger strike in the women's ward of Evin Prison,' and although the names of these four political prisoners are not mentioned in the report, Ms. Iraee noted that one of them 'must be released according to the forensic medicine order.' Golrokh Iraee also added: 'The striking and sit-in prisoners demand a halt to executions and the release of political prisoners.' The 'Tuesdays No to Execution' campaign, initiated in Bahman 1402 (January 2024) by several political prisoners held in Qazalhesar Prison in Alborz Province, aims to draw domestic and international attention to the issue of issuing and executing death sentences in the prisons of the Islamic Republic. This campaign has continued every Tuesday and has involved several other prisoners in various locations across Iran, taking place in at least 21 prisons. Shirin Ebadi, a lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has described the 'Tuesdays No to Execution' campaign as 'the result of not succumbing to pressure and repression' and also 'emphasizing unity and collective action.'