More than 1,000 French mayors have united in a powerful appeal condemning the Iranian regime’s increasing use of the death penalty, urging immediate international action to halt the ongoing wave of executions. In a joint declaration, released with the support of the Committee of French Mayors for a Democratic Iran and the Committee for the Support of Human Rights in Iran, the mayors voiced deep concern over the sharp rise in politically motivated executions under President Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration.
The mayors denounced the death penalty as a tool of political repression, highlighting its use by the Iranian authorities to instill fear and suppress dissent. “In Iran, executions are not merely punitive—they are instruments of tyranny,” the statement read. A particularly harrowing example cited was the execution of Reza Rasaei, a protester detained during the November 2022 demonstrations in Shahriar. His case, the mayors noted, symbolizes the regime’s systematic targeting of dissenters.
A central figure in the declaration was Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), whose Ten-Point Plan envisions a democratic, secular republic founded on justice, gender equality, and the total abolition of the death penalty. The mayors expressed firm support for her vision, aligning themselves with the Iranian people’s aspirations for freedom and democratic reform.
The declaration also drew upon reports by Professor Javaid Rehman, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran. His investigations revealed grave abuses against members of the PMOI, including torture, mass executions, and other inhumane acts. Professor Rehman has stated these abuses could constitute crimes against humanity—and possibly genocide—based on their scale and intent.
Statistics from Amnesty International reinforce the mayors’ alarm. In 2023, Iran accounted for more than 64% of all documented executions worldwide, a staggering figure that has only climbed since Pezeshkian assumed office. The execution surge has prompted a growing internal movement within Iran, as political prisoners and civil society activists launch weekly hunger strikes every Tuesday. The campaign, known as “Tuesdays for No to Execution,” has become a symbol of resilience and defiance in the face of state violence.
The French mayors’ declaration ends with a passionate call for the international community to abandon its silence and act decisively. They urged democratic governments, human rights organizations, and global institutions to take concrete, coordinated measures to pressure Tehran to end its campaign of executions. Their statement also called for an end to the culture of impunity that enables the regime’s systematic use of the death penalty as a political weapon.
By amplifying the voices of the Iranian people and aligning themselves with movements for freedom and justice, the mayors emphasized the urgent need for global solidarity against repression. Their message is clear: the time for action is now.