Amnesty International: The confirmation of the death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi is unjust

On Thursday, January 20, Amnesty International condemned the confirmation of the death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi, a jailed civil activist, by the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic, calling it "unjust" and emphasizing that Ms. Azizi's activities were "humanitarian, human rights-related, and peaceful." The human rights organization called on Iranian authorities via the social media platform "X" to halt the execution of Pakhshan Azizi and release her immediately. 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 opposing groups in the country." Amir Reisiian, Pakhshan Azizi's lawyer, announced on Wednesday, January 19, that the death sentence for his client was confirmed by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic "without regard to the numerous defects in the case." Mr. Reisiian stated that after the issuance of the death sentence in Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran, he had requested a review, but unfortunately, during the re-examination of the case at the Supreme Court, "the appeal was rejected and the death sentence was confirmed without attention to the numerous defects in the case." According to this lawyer, "none of the objections raised regarding Pakhshan Azizi's case were answered by the Supreme Court, and the court ignored both formal and substantive defects in the case. Deficiencies in the investigations were overlooked, and the documents and evidence indicating that Ms. Azizi's case was not suitable for a death sentence, and that her activities in northern Syria in the Shangal refugee camp and other refugee camps from the ISIS war were peaceful and fundamentally non-political, focused on humanitarian aid against ISIS attacks, received no attention." Earlier, the Iran Human Rights Organization on Wednesday, January 19, described the issuance and confirmation of this sentence for Pakhshan Azizi as "part of the intimidation policy" of the Islamic Republic following the nationwide protests of "Women, Life, Freedom," and called on the international community to respond to stop executions and immediately revoke Pakhshan Azizi's sentence, especially in light of the unprecedented increase in executions, particularly of women. Mahmoud Amiri-Moghaddam, director of the Iran Human Rights Organization, stated: "This illegal sentence, issued to suppress civil society at the behest of security agencies, must be condemned in the strongest terms by the international community. Only raising the political cost can prevent the occurrence of this crime." Shirin Ebadi, head of the Human Rights Defenders Center and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, also noted in her Telegram channel that the confirmation of Pakhshan Azizi's death sentence coincided with "shocking reports" of execution statistics in Iran, writing: "Undoubtedly, the confirmation of this unjust and inhumane sentence is nothing but an attempt to create an atmosphere of fear and terror, and the government insists on saying that the door is still revolving on the same axis as before." She added: "We must ultimately strive in unity and solidarity and one voice for the cancellation of the death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi, Varisheh Moradi, Korkor Mujahid, and all hostages sentenced to death in the prisons of the Islamic Republic." The Coordinating Council of Teachers' Trade Associations of Iran also commented on the confirmation of Pakhshan Azizi's death sentence, stating: "This sentence was issued without examining the legal objections and evidence in the case." The council added: "The Islamic Republic, by issuing such sentences, shows that repression and violence are its main tools for survival." The council emphasized that "to abolish death sentences and confront the reactionary ruling structure, unity and resistance are essential" and stated: "Pakhshan Azizi and Varisheh Moradi are in serious danger of execution. Silence in the face of injustice means complicity with oppression. Only through protest and action can this cycle of repression be broken." Additionally, a collection of human rights activists in Iran reported that the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic confirmed the death sentences for Behrouz Ehsani Islamloo and Mahdi Hasani. According to information received by HRANA, the death sentence was communicated to the lawyers of these two political prisoners on Tuesday, January 17. Behrouz Ehsani Islamloo and Mahdi Hasani were sentenced to death in late September on charges of "rebellion, waging war against God, corruption on earth, gathering classified information, and conspiracy against national security" in Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court presided over by Iman Afshari. "Membership" in the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran is among the charges attributed to these two prisoners. Currently, at least 54 "political and security" prisoners, including Varisheh Moradi, are facing death sentences in the prisons of the Islamic Republic on charges including "rebellion, waging war against God, and corruption on earth." The increase in the issuance and execution of death sentences by the judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran has faced widespread global protests.