Geneva – October 2025
This year’s World Day Against the Death Penalty was marked with voices louder than ever before—voices that echoed from Geneva to Tehran. While the international community came together on this day to condemn capital punishment, a group of free Iranians and volunteers of the Verein Welle association held a three-day sit-in in the heart of Geneva. Their action drew widespread attention and became a powerful platform to highlight the global call for the abolition of executions.
According to reliable human rights reports, the Iranian regime remains the world record holder for executions relative to its population. Last year alone, more than 800 people were executed—an appalling figure that reveals how the regime not only uses the death penalty as a tool of repression but also strips away lives on a massive scale. Executions in Iran are disproportionately imposed on political prisoners, civil society activists, and even minors.
A message of pain and resilience
In Geneva, the three-day sit-in brought these concerns into sharp focus. Through speeches, the display of victims’ images, and direct engagement with passersby, the sit-in created a powerful human and political message: the fight against executions is a global responsibility.
One of the most moving moments came when the voices of the mothers of prisoners sentenced to death were heard. Despite threats and repression, these courageous mothers have been at the forefront of the struggle, demanding justice and the right to life for their children. Their message was read aloud in Geneva by Verein Welle volunteers, in different languages, so the public could feel the pain and resilience of families living under constant fear. Their words were simple yet profound: “We want life, not death. We want justice, not revenge.”
Urgent appeal for action
The urgency of their message could not be clearer. At present, at least seventeen political prisoners in Iran face an imminent risk of execution. Their names and faces were displayed on banners and posters during the sit-in, reminding the world that every hour counts. The Geneva sit-in turned that anxiety into a call to action, urging the global community not to remain silent.
Public response in Geneva was remarkable. Locals stopped to listen, asked questions about executions in Iran, and many signed petitions in support of abolition. Media outlets covered the event, and conversations with citizens showed a deep sense of solidarity. “When I see that lives are still being taken so mercilessly somewhere in the world, I cannot stay indifferent. This is a fight for all of us,” said one Swiss resident who joined the sit-in.
The final word: a plea for justice
The Iranian regime’s relentless use of the death penalty is not justice—it is a systematic and political crime. By executing protesters, women, religious minorities, and young people, the regime attempts to instill fear and crush any call for freedom. This reality was vividly reflected in the three-day sit-in.
The closing statement of the sit-in carried a clear and powerful message: “We, on the World Day Against the Death Penalty, reaffirm the sanctity of human life. We condemn the death penalty in every form and in every place… We demand urgent action to save their lives and to abolish the death penalty completely—in Iran and worldwide.”
Join our fight: support the campaign against executions in Iran
The struggle to save lives in Iran is ongoing. Your voice and support can make a difference. Join Verein Welle in our mission to raise global awareness about human rights violations and the fight against the death penalty. By supporting our work, you help amplify the voices of those who have been silenced and push for a world where justice prevails. Together, we can work to end the cycle of violence and save lives.
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