Political Prisoners' Hunger Strike in Protest Against Executions in Iran; Dozens of Civil Activists Express Solidarity

Following the announcement of a public hunger strike by 61 political prisoners in the women's ward of Evin Prison in protest against the execution of Mohammad Ghobadloo and Farhad Salimi, a large number of political and civil activists in Iran and abroad declared their intention to join the strike. Atena Daemi, a political activist, published the names of 37 former political prisoners from the women's ward of Evin on her Instagram page, stating that they are expressing solidarity with the hunger strike of the 61 women prisoners in Evin. Part of the statement reads: "We stand by you and know that the solidarity declaration of prisoners requires the support of us, the people. We will be the echo of your voice so that the message of justice-seeking, rights advocacy, and opposition to executions is heard around the world." Among the signatories of the statement are Nazanin Zaghari, Aras Amiri, Monireh Arabshahi, Aliyeh Matlabi, Yasaman Aryani, Nazi Askoi, Atena Daemi, and Pouran Nazemi. Several mothers of victims, including Shahnaaz Akmali, whose son Mostafa Karimbeigi was killed during the protests of 2009, also announced that they would go on hunger strike. Maryam Kalaran, the daughter of Nahid Taghavi, announced that this dual-national Iranian-German prisoner, who has been temporarily released on electronic monitoring, will go on hunger strike on Thursday to support her fellow inmates in the women's ward of Evin in protest against the brutal executions and the demand to stop them. On the other hand, Mehdi Yarahai, Sepideh Gholian, Zeinab Jalalian, and Tomaj Salehi are among the prisoners and protesters who have joined this campaign. Mehdi Yarahai, a protesting singer who was detained for a while and then released on bail, wrote on social media "X" on Wednesday: "I too, in solidarity with the 61 women political prisoners of Evin in protest against the execution of Mohammad Ghobadloo and for the cessation of executions, will go on a symbolic hunger strike tomorrow, Thursday, February 5." The Kurdistan Human Rights Network reported on Wednesday, February 4, quoting "one of Jalalian's close associates," that this political prisoner, sentenced to life imprisonment and currently in Yazd prison, will also go on hunger strike on Thursday "in protest against the executions" and for "the cessation of executions." According to this person close to Zeinab Jalalian, despite being "in isolation" in Yazd prison and "having severely limited phone calls," she stated that today (Wednesday), after learning about the executions of political prisoners in recent months and in support of the public demand for the abolition of the death penalty in Iran, she will also join the hunger strike alongside the 61 political prisoners in Yazd prison. Additionally, Tomaj Salehi's account on social media "X," managed by his relatives, reported on Wednesday that this political prisoner plans to go on hunger strike on Thursday, alongside the 61 political prisoners in the women's ward of Evin, "in protest against the killings of Mohammad Ghobadloo and Farhad Salimi" and to call for "an end to these killings." Hassan Homayoun, the husband of Saeedeh Shafiei, a journalist imprisoned in Evin, also announced that on Thursday, "I will not eat or drink and will support the hunger strike of the women prisoners." He emphasized that "joining the hunger strike is an expectation that the women prisoners at least have from their relatives and friends." Havaan Tamisi, the wife of Mohsen Mazloom, a Kurdish political prisoner, also wrote on "X" on Wednesday: "As a freedom seeker and opponent of the Islamic Republic regime, I announce my hunger strike alongside the 61 women prisoners in Evin and also Tomaj Salehi." Ms. Tamisi urged the West not to "tolerate" the Islamic Republic and to stop executions by applying pressure on officials and placing the IRGC on the terrorist list. She added: "Now not only my husband Mohsen Mazloom but also hundreds of prisoners are on death row across Iran; these state-sanctioned and inhumane killings must end." Following the execution of Mohammad Ghobadloo and Farhad Salimi, two political prisoners, 61 political and ideological prisoners in the women's ward of Evin Prison announced on Tuesday, February 3, that "the news of the execution of Iran's youth has sparked a wave of anger and protest in society. The women political-ideological prisoners of Evin will go on a public hunger strike on Thursday, February 5, in protest against the recent executions and to demand the 'cessation of executions.'" The execution of the two political prisoners on Tuesday morning has triggered a wave of anger and protest on social media, with observers describing these executions as "revenge" by the Islamic Republic against the Iranian people following the "killing of its terrorists" in the region. Among them, Prince Reza Pahlavi emphasized in a message: "The desperate regime of Khamenei takes revenge on the innocent people of Iran, the youth, and children for the killing of its terrorists in Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq; with the aim of giving hope to its few wavering supporters and discouraging the Iranian people in their struggle." Other political figures and organizations with various political orientations have also condemned these executions. The spokesperson for the U.S. State Department also condemned the executions of Mohammad Ghobadloo and Farhad Salimi on Tuesday, February 4, and expressed condolences to their families. The burial of Mohammad Ghobadloo, the executed protester, took place in a heavily secured environment. Raha Bahraini stated: "The execution of Mohammad Ghobadloo shows a new level of cruelty by the officials of the Islamic Republic." A group of Iranians living in Montreal gathered in protest against the execution of Mohammad Ghobadloo and Farhad Salimi. A protest against the executions was also held in front of the Islamic Republic's Interests Section in Washington. The illegal process leading to the execution of Mohammad Ghobadloo occurred despite protests, as discussed with Hossein Ahmadinejad. Continued global reactions to the executions of Mohammad Ghobadloo and Farhad Salimi call for accountability for those responsible for the executions in Iran.