Political prisoners in 38 prisons in Rojhilat Kurdistan and Iran continued the "No to Execution on Tuesdays" campaign in its 63rd week. Prisoners who went on hunger strike condemned the death sentence given to Pakhshan Azizi and reacted to the rejection of the retrial request.

 

10 PRISONERS LIKELY TO BE EXECUTED

 

The statement of political prisoners this week reads: "While there was a relative decrease in the execution of death sentences during the Newroz holiday, we are witnessing an increase again afterwards. In recent days, many prisoners have been quarantined. For example, on Monday at least 10 prisoners in Qezl E-Khazar Prison were transferred to a 'safe ward'. This indicates that the possibility of their execution is imminent.

 

The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, ignoring internal and external pressure and protests, continues to repress and impose death sentences. For example, Kurdish political prisoner Pakhshan Azizi's request for a retrial was rejected by the Supreme Court for the second time. With this decision, the risk of execution for Pakhshan Azizi has increased even more. Kerim Khojasteh, another political prisoner in Lakan Prison in Rasht, was tried on charges of 'rebellion' and sentenced to death.

 

We, the members of the 'No Death Penalty Tuesdays' campaign, express our deep concern at the increasing threats of execution, unequivocally condemn these sentences and warn against the widespread execution of people sentenced to death for non-political offences. While appreciating the international support, we urge the international community to make the continuation of all relations and transactions with the Islamic Republic of Iran conditional on the complete abolition of the death penalty."

 

PRISONS ON STRIKE

 

The prisons who went on hunger strike are as follows: "(Women's Ward, Wards 4 and 8), Ghezel Hesar (3rd and 4th Units), Karaj, Greater Tehran, Khorin Varamin, Chobindar Qazvin, Arak, Khorramabad, Asadabad Isfahan, Dastgerd Isfahan, Sheiban Ahvaz, Sepidar Ahvaz (women and men), Nizam Shiraz, Adelabad Shiraz (women and men), Borazjan, Ramhormoz, Bam, Kahnouj, Tabas, Juyin, Mashhad, Gonbad Kavous, Ghaemshahr, Lakan Rasht (women and men), Rudsar, Hawiq Talesh, Dieselabad Kermashan, Ardebil, Tabriz, Urmia, Salmas, Hoy, Naqdeh, Miandoab, Saqqez, Baneh, Marivan, Kamyaran."