In a powerful display of international solidarity, Iranian academics and human rights activists organized a week-long street exhibition across three major UK cities—Sheffield, Manchester, and London—calling for an immediate halt to the executions of Iranian political prisoners Mehdi Hasani and Behrooz Ehsani. The exhibitions, held from May 1 to May 8, were led by the Iranian Academic Association and supported by grassroots human rights groups, raising urgent alarm over the fate of the two men who remain at imminent risk of execution following reports of torture and unfair trials.
The exhibitions transformed public spaces into open-air galleries, where passersby were confronted with haunting images, personal testimonies, and hard-hitting facts detailing the harsh conditions faced by Hasani and Ehsani. According to reports, both men have been subjected to prolonged solitary confinement, coerced confessions under torture, and denied access to fair legal representation—a pattern disturbingly familiar in Iran’s judicial treatment of political dissidents.
In Manchester’s St. Peter’s Square, a large crowd gathered in silence around a series of posters bearing the names and faces of Hasani and Ehsani, underlined with the stark call: “#StopExecutionsInIran.” Volunteers handed out informational leaflets and engaged with the public to raise awareness about Iran’s increasing use of the death penalty as a tool of political repression. Activists read out excerpts from letters written by the prisoners’ families, pleading with the international community not to remain silent.
The exhibition in London’s Trafalgar Square drew attention from both locals and tourists, many of whom expressed shock at the brutal details shared by the organizers. The Iranian Academic Association emphasized that these executions are not isolated incidents, but part of a broader state campaign aimed at silencing dissent and deterring activism, particularly in the wake of the 2022-2023 nationwide protests in Iran.
In Sheffield, university students and faculty members joined hands to co-host a panel discussion alongside the exhibition, focusing on the erosion of judicial independence in Iran. “Academia has a moral obligation to stand up against injustice wherever it occurs,” said Dr. Laleh M., one of the event’s organizers. “Silence is complicity. We’re here to be a voice for the voiceless.”
Calls were made throughout the week urging the UK government, the United Nations, and international human rights organizations to apply immediate pressure on Iranian authorities to stop the executions and launch an independent investigation into the alleged torture and due process violations. Amnesty International UK and Amnesty Iran were tagged in numerous posts shared online, amplifying the campaign’s message and connecting it to global advocacy networks.
The exhibitions concluded with a unified appeal for action: to write to MPs, share the stories of Hasani and Ehsani, and demand accountability from Iranian officials. As banners were taken down and candles extinguished, organizers reiterated their commitment to continue the fight for justice, warning that time is running out.
“We will not stop until these executions are halted,” one activist declared. “Because their lives matter—and the world is watching.”