26 Human Rights Organizations Call for Cancellation of Death Sentence for Pakhshan Azizi

26 human rights organizations issued a joint statement condemning the death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi, a social worker and political prisoner, describing it as a "clear violation of human rights principles and standards." This statement was published on Tuesday, September 10, and was signed by organizations including Iran Human Rights, the Abdorrahman Boroumand Foundation, Justice for Iran, and the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. The signatories emphasized the unfairness of the judicial process in Iran, stating: "We call on international organizations, human rights groups, and the global community to take immediate and effective action to express their protest against this ruling and the widespread violation of human rights by the Islamic Republic government." Pakhshan Azizi, a graduate in social work, has been imprisoned since August of last year, and in early August of this year, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Iman Afshari, sentenced her to death on charges of "baghy" (rebellion) for "membership in groups that have engaged in armed uprising against the Islamic government." The 26 human rights organizations noted in their statement regarding the attribution of the charge of "baghy" to Ms. Azizi that "despite all the pressures exerted on her during her detention, she has denied any involvement in armed operations." The Alliance for Iran, the Association of Families of Victims of Aban, Shahrang, the Human Rights Organization of Azerbaijan in Iran, and the Kurdish Human Rights Network are among the other signatories of this statement. Previously, a number of social and student activists had issued a statement protesting the death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi, viewing it as part of the "suppression of various groups including women and ethnicities" and aimed at "diminishing their protests." Pakhshan Azizi, in a letter published on the Hengaw website, described the torture she endured during interrogation, stating that during this time, "I have been hanged several times by interrogators."