3400 Activists Support Pakhshan Azizi: He Represents Our Pain and Aspirations

Hundreds of political, civil, and cultural activists signed a statement protesting the death sentence issued for Pakhshan Azizi, emphasizing that societies cannot become just by "shedding human blood." In the statement from 3400 citizens, including artists, writers, poets, journalists, political and civil activists, and lawyers, it is stated: "There is no place for the word 'absence' on the path to justice." The signatories added: "Pakhshan Azizi is a human among our people; he embodies our pains, hopes, and aspirations. The execution of Pakhshan Azizi will be a wound on our conscience that will never heal." They stressed that "no society will become more just by shedding human blood," stating: "This time, not as artists or civil activists or any other figures, but as a suffering people, as citizens of this country; Iranian families who feel a duty against any oppression, we express our serious objection to the death sentence of 'Pakhshan Azizi.'" Pakhshan Azizi was sentenced to death and four years in prison on August 24 of this year by Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran, presided over by Iman Afshari, on charges of "rebellion through membership in opposition groups." Amir Reisiyaan, Pakhshan Azizi's lawyer, announced on Wednesday, January 8, regarding the confirmation of his client's death sentence that this ruling was confirmed in Branch 39 of the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic "without regard to numerous deficiencies in the case." Mr. Reisiyaan stated that he had requested a review of the case in the Supreme Court following the issuance of the death sentence in Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran, saying that during the re-examination of the case in the Supreme Court, "unfortunately, without considering the numerous deficiencies in the case, the appeal was rejected and the death sentence was confirmed." The issuance of the death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi by the judiciary of the Islamic Republic has led to widespread domestic and international reactions. Abram Paley, Deputy Special Representative of the United States for Iran, previously called for the cancellation of Pakhshan Azizi's death sentence and stated that the U.S. urges the Islamic Republic of Iran to revoke his death sentence following a "sham trial." Additionally, in recent days, May Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, expressed concern over the confirmation of Pakhshan Azizi's death sentence by the Supreme Court, referring to reports of his torture in solitary confinement and his deprivation of fair trial and access to a lawyer. Furthermore, a group of UN experts stated in a statement that "the charges against Ms. Pakhshan Azizi do not reach the level of the most serious crimes necessary for the imposition of the death penalty under international law" and emphasized that "her death sentence constitutes a serious violation of international human rights law." Currently, at least 54 "political and security" prisoners face death sentences in the Islamic Republic on charges including "rebellion, waging war against God, and corruption on earth."