Campaigners have taken to the streets of Southampton to call for an end to executions in Iran. 

Members of the Association of Academics in Exile manned a stall opposite the Bargate on Above Bar Street on Saturday (September 28).

They called for an end to killings in the country where capital punishment is a legal penalty.

Mehdi Manesh from Chandler's Ford emigrated to the UK from Iran 30-years ago and now wants people to sign a petition that he can send to MPs, highlighting the issues taking place in his birth country.

Mehdi Manesh (Image: Matt Davey) READ MORE: Flat residents' Grenfell fears as fire alarms don't go off

The 64-year-old said: “We’re running an exhibition supporting Iranian people.

“This week is ‘stop execution week,’ we want to stop executions happening in Iran.

“We want people to sign our petition, that we will the send to the local MPs, to try and push the government to highlight it and therefore stop the Iranian government executing Iranian citizens.”

Working on a range of human rights issues, the Association of Academics in Exile travel around Hampshire each week to ask for support.

Last week the campaigners were in Southampton again, highlighting the two-year anniversary of Iran's uprising, which saw civil unrest following the death of Mahsa Amini.

“We have between 50 and 100 people sign our petition every day, so I think it shows the wider public are concerned and want to support us,” said Mehdi.

“We have exhibitions every week, it’s very helpful for us to spread the message about what is happening Iran and try to put an end to the executions which is wrong in any society.”