Burn The Cage reposted this video of the aftermath of the regime’s deliberate burning of the main market in Rasht, a major city in northern Iran, preventing firefighters from arriving so as to corral and massacre protesters who had taken over streets. Witnesses reported that tanks shelled the protesters in multiple locations and the dead were so numerous that heavy machinery was used to transport them. To retrieve their dead, grieving families were forced to pay large sums of money for “bullet costs” or sign statements that the victims were killed by protesters.
“No to Execution Tuesdays continue, even in total darkness”
In recent weeks, Iran’s prisoners seem to be unable to publish their weekly statement from the “No to Execution Tuesdays” hunger strike campaign, which is now about to complete its second year of continuous weekly prison protest. Political prisoner Ahmadreza Haeri in Ghezel Hesar prison is one of few prisoners able to communicate with the outside world recently. On Tuesday, January 13, he issued the following statement, excerpted here:
Today is Tuesday, January 13, 2026, and the 103rd week of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign; a week that is being held under unprecedented and horrific conditions: a complete digital and communication blackout throughout Iran…In such circumstances, we are unable to communicate with the members of the campaign. However, aware of the continued collective will of political and ideological prisoners, and with faith in the history of this campaign, we are publishing this statement on their behalf and to ensure that this chain of resistance is not broken… We declare our full solidarity with the protesting people, the grieving families, the political and conscience prisoners, and all those who are fighting to survive and be seen in this organized blackout. The “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign has always declared that executions are not a means of revenge, but a tool of the government to create fear, suppress protests, and break society. Today, this truth has been exposed more than ever.
No to Execution Tuesdays continue, even in total darkness.
Grave Danger to Detainees Amid Blackout
On January 14, 35 civil rights organizations, including the Free Narges Coalition, PEN America, and the Center for Human Rights in Iran, and Kurdish, Baloch and Azerbaijani groups signed a statement calling urgent attention to the grave risks to prisoners, whose ranks have swelled with at least 22,000 new arrestees:
Both recent and long-standing detainees—including human rights defenders, journalists, writers, and artists—face an acute and often overlooked risk. Past patterns in Iran demonstrate that periods of widespread unrest are accompanied by heightened abuses inside detention facilities, where these groups are particularly vulnerable to extrajudicial killing, enforced disappearance, torture, and other forms of ill-treatment. Those held in solitary confinement and denied contact with the outside world are at especially high risk… [E]very hour of inaction increases the risk of irreversible loss of human life and gross violations of human rights.
Day of Grassroots Solidarity
In a situation that continues to be fluid in Iran, the upcoming day of solidarity with Iran’s prison and street rebels takes on added urgency—to stand with the Iranian people and against Iran’s regime as well as imperialist threats/moves.
On JANUARY 28, 2026, the International Emergency Campaign to Free Iran’s Political Prisoners Now (IEC) together with the Unitarian Universalists of San Francisco Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) invite you to
Stand With Iran’s Rebels & Against U.S.-Israel War Threats/Moves on Iran! Free Iran’s Political Prisoners Now!
With an 8-9 AM VIGIL and a 6-9 PM FILM SHOWING—INSIDE THE IRANIAN UPRISING (2022)
1187 Franklin Street, San Francisco, CA
These are special events to mark what would be the culmination of the 104th week of the courageous “No to Execution Tuesdays” weekly hunger strike by thousands of prisoners in scores of prisons across Iran. These selfless and brave prisoner rebels are the conscience of the society and call to us.
Iran’s theocratic regime executed over 2,000 prisoners in 2025, the most in 20 years, and is now conducting brutal round-ups and street executions amid a new, sustained mass uprising since December 28, 2025. As of January 14th, over 2,400 people have been reported to have been killed, thousands injured, and at least ten thousand in custody under horrific conditions. The situation is unfolding as we write. Letters from prisoners vow to continue their struggle amid all this.
On January 28 we will stand with those who are bravely standing up in Iran’s prisons and protesting in the streets for a better world. Their struggle is our struggle.
As people living in the U.S. we have a special responsibility to oppose the vicious war threats by fascist Trump against Iran, which can only bring more suffering to the people there. In June 2025, Israel and the U.S. bombed Iran in an unprovoked attack. They bombed Evin prison which houses most of Iran’s political prisoners! Trump's latest threat to attack Iran to “save its peaceful protesters” is very serious, and could potentially lead to a regional or even world conflagration. No one should forget that the U.S. has shown it will use nukes on civilians, as they did in Japan. The U.S. has over 5,000 nukes!
We will mark this moment with two events:
- On the morning of Wednesday, January 28, at Franklin and Geary Streets in San Francisco from 8-9 AM the UUSF weekly vigil. Bring signs and banners that express solidarity with Iran’s prisoners and protesters, and opposition to U.S.-Israel war threats.
- Later that evening from 6-9 PM, we’ll show the PBS Frontline documentary “Inside the Iranian Uprising,” in the UUSF’s TSK room about the powerful 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom uprising. It is both timely and relevant as millions rise up in Iran to demand an end to the whole oppressive regime—versus battling against one atrocity after another.
Urgent questions about the future of Iran, the region, and the world pose themselves to people of conscience.
After the film there will be solidarity statements, a brief Q & A session, and community mingling. (Send statements to freeiranspoliticalprisonersnow@gmail.com.)
From diverse political perspectives, we treasure our unity in our common cause for justice: We demand of the Islamic Republic of Iran: FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS NOW! We say to the US government: NO THREATS OR WAR MOVES AGAINST IRAN! LIFT SANCTIONS!
More info: FreeIransPoliticalPrisonersNow@gmail.com or humanrights@uusf.org
To donate for the event, send checks or money orders payable to International Emergency Campaign to Free Iran's Political Prisoners Now, 18601 N. Hwy 1 #212, Fort Bragg, CA 96437
Lastly, watch this powerful statement by Miles Solay of the band Outernational on January 15. His caption sums it up with moral and political clarity: “Full support to the righteous uprising in Iran to overthrow the fascist dark ages Islamic Republic. Free all political prisoners in Iran now! NO TO ALL USA AND ISRAELI intervention, attacks. The fascist regime of Donald Trump is no friend to the people of the world.”