Narges Mohammadi, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and prominent human rights activist, has described the No to Execution Tuesdays campaign by female prisoners as a "civil movement capable of expanding across Iran".
Speaking during a virtual event on Clubhouse to mark the campaign's first anniversary, Mohammadi highlighted its significance in opposing the widespread use of executions in Iran.
"The Islamic Republic seeks to assert its hollow authority by creating fear through mass executions," said Mohammadi, one of the most outspoken activists inside Iran.
"This campaign is not just a protest but a deeply human rights-driven effort that holds the potential to unite and mobilize people against the death penalty."
The campaign began on January 30, 2024, when political prisoners in the women’s ward of Tehran’s Evin Prison launched hunger strikes every Tuesday to protest increasing executions and show solidarity with inmates at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj who had done the same.
Now in its 53rd week, the movement has gained momentum, drawing support from political prisoners across Iran.
Mohammadi, currently on medical leave from imprisonment, expressed her hope for an Iran free of executions.
"The gallows ropes will be torn apart by the powerful hands of each one of us," she said.
"One day, these execution chambers will serve only as a historical lesson on the consequences of tyranny, guiding humanity toward progress, freedom and equality."
The campaign’s message has reached international audiences, amplified by the participation of Iranian political prisoners from diverse backgrounds.
Mohammadi called for continued unity among democracy and human rights advocates, underscoring the campaign’s potential to foster lasting change.
