On April 8, 2025, as part of the 63rd week of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” Campaign, prisoners in 38 prisons across Iran went on hunger strike, renewing their protest against the regime’s continued use of the death penalty as a tool of repression. The protest coincided with a series of significant international developments that further spotlighted the Iranian regime’s appalling human rights record.
According to this week’s statement by the campaign, the end of Nowruz holidays (from March 21 to April 1) has marked the intensification of executions in Iran. The statement reported that numerous prisoners have been transferred to execution wards, warning of the imminent implementation of death sentences.
“We are witnessing a sharp increase in the issuance and implementation of death sentences. In recent days, many prisoners have been transferred to quarantine wards in preparation for execution. On Monday alone, at least 10 prisoners at Ghezel Hesar Prison were moved to the ‘secure ward,’ indicating the imminent implementation of their death sentences.”
Amnesty International: Iran Responsible for 64% of All Executions Worldwide
This week’s campaign was reinforced by a damning report from Amnesty International, which identified Iran under the mullahs’ regime as the country responsible for 64% of all recorded executions globally. The finding is a stark reminder that the genocidal regime remains the world’s top executioner per capita, despite growing international outrage.
To this end, the campaign emphasized that Tehran’s execution policy is not only widespread but politically calculated, targeting not just political and ideological prisoners, but increasingly those convicted of non-political crimes.
UN Human Rights Council Extends Monitoring and Investigations
At the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, a resolution was passed condemning Iran’s ongoing human rights violations. The resolution extended the mandates of the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran and the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for another year. Importantly, the scope of the mission has now been expanded.
“The resolution expands the scope of the Fact-Finding Mission beyond the 2022 uprising, to include other crimes committed by the regime and the collection of evidence for potential judicial prosecution of those responsible,” the statement of this weeks No to Executions Tuesdays wrote in this regard.
This extension reflects growing global recognition of the systematic nature of the Iranian regime’s abuses, and an intent to hold those responsible accountable in international courts.
European Parliament Condemns Executions, Urges IRGC Designation
Also last week, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the wave of executions in Iran. The resolution highlighted the upholding of death sentences against Mehdi Hasani and Behrouz Ehsani, both political prisoners, and reiterated its call for the release of all political and ideological prisoners.
Furthermore, the resolution again urged the European Union to designate the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) as a terrorist organization—a measure long demanded by Iranian civil society groups and human rights advocates.
Regime Defiance and the Campaign’s Warning
Despite mounting international pressure and condemnation, the regime has refused to alter its course. In its statement, the No to Executions Tuesdays campaign warned:
“The Iranian regime, disregarding both domestic and international protests and pressure, continues its policy of repression and the issuance of death sentences.”
The No to Execution Tuesdays Campaign once again called attention to the growing number of political, ideological, and non-political prisoners facing imminent execution and emphasized the responsibility of civil society, human rights organizations, and international actors to intervene.
“We, the members of the ‘No to Execution Tuesdays’ campaign, while expressing our deep concern over the increasing threat of execution against political and ideological prisoners, firmly condemn these sentences. We also warn against the rising trend of executions for prisoners convicted of non-political crimes.”
A Growing Resistance, A Clear Message
Now in its 63rd consecutive week, the campaign has become a powerful expression of defiance from within Iran’s prison system. Despite heavy censorship, these weekly hunger strikes have drawn global attention to Iran’s escalating use of the death penalty.