Cartoon by Michael Ramirez

Global Protests Condemn Death Sentences In Iran

Iran International: Iranians in 14 countries demonstrated as part of the "No to Execution" global campaign this weekend, against rising death sentences in Iran.

On Saturday, Iranians in Sweden, Canada, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, Finland, and Iraq organized protests.

In Canada, Iranian residents in cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, and Calgary braved extreme cold temperatures to voice their opposition to the death sentences.

Demonstrators conveyed their protest by displaying photos of those condemned to death with one hand and holding a symbolic rope in the other.

The global campaign, spanning from January 13 to 20, saw participation from over 100 groups, political parties, and more than 800 Iranian and non-Iranian activists.

Beyond the demonstrations, participants engaged in discussions with authorities in respective countries concerning the ongoing executions in Iran.

According to a report by the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) on Thursday, at least 12 prisoners in Iran, charged with political or security-related offenses, currently face death sentences.

The political prisoners, held in Tehran, Karaj, Ahvaz, Kermanshah, and Zahedan prisons, have been condemned to execution by the revolutionary and criminal courts of the Islamic Republic's judiciary.

Charges such as "moharebeh" (waging war against God), corruption on earth, membership in opposition parties, and collaboration with foreign states are among the accusations that have led to the imposition of death sentences for the inmates.

Last year hundreds of political prisoners, protesters and those charged with drug offenses were executed as executions reached record numbers.