Amnesty International: The Death Sentence of Sharifeh Mohammadi Should Be Revoked

Amnesty International has once again called for the revocation of the death sentence and the immediate release of Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist imprisoned in Lakan Prison in Rasht. This international organization emphasized that the death sentence and conviction of this imprisoned labor activist must be annulled and she should be 'released immediately.' In its statement published on Wednesday, March 8, Amnesty International expressed concern over the 'severely unfair' trial of Ms. Mohammadi and the reissuance of her death sentence by the Revolutionary Court of Rasht. The reissuance of the death sentence for this imprisoned labor activist, accused of 'membership in one of the opposition groups (Komala Party)' and 'rebellion,' comes as Sharifeh Mohammadi's lawyer reported that the objections raised in this case have gone unanswered. Amir Raeisian, Ms. Mohammadi's lawyer, criticized the 'legal flaws' in the handling of the case and the 'illegality' of how the verdict against his client was issued, stating that he would request a retrial in this regard. Additionally, Ms. Mohammadi, her family, and her lawyers have denied the charges against her, and the campaign defending Sharifeh Mohammadi has described the issuance of death sentences against female activists as 'an example of war against women and revenge against labor and social activists.' Meanwhile, the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan has denied her membership. The Coordination Committee to Help Establish Labor Organizations, of which Sharifeh Mohammadi was a member until 2011, has also rejected any affiliation with the Komala organization and emphasized that its activities are solely aimed at pursuing the labor rights of workers and efforts to establish independent labor unions. In this context, the campaign defending Sharifeh Mohammadi has stated that the death sentences issued against this labor activist have been confirmed by two judges, a father and son. Sharifeh Mohammadi, 45, from Miyaneh in East Azerbaijan and residing in Rasht, was arrested on December 5, 2023, by agents of the Islamic Republic's Ministry of Intelligence in Rasht and reportedly endured psychological and physical torture during her detention in Rasht and Sanandaj. Her first death sentence, issued on July 5 this year during a 10-minute trial, was annulled by the Supreme Court following widespread criticism from activists and international human rights organizations. However, the campaign defending Sharifeh Mohammadi reported on February 14 that the second branch of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht has once again sentenced Sharifeh Mohammadi to death. The Islamic Republic has intensified repression and pressure against civil activists, especially women, following the nationwide protests of 'Women, Life, Freedom' in Iran. The Iran Human Rights Organization reported on January 7 that in 2024, 31 women have been executed in Iranian prisons. According to this report, this number of executions of women has been unprecedented in the past seventeen years. More than 1,200 women activists, anti-death penalty activists, and political prisoners have called in a statement from 44 countries and international organizations for pressure on the Islamic Republic to end the execution of women in Iran. The Iran Human Rights Campaign: 3 political prisoners are at serious risk of execution. Protests by dozens of lawyers against the death sentences of three political prisoners: a violation of human rights. Symbolic burning of a noose at a protest gathering of civil activists in front of Evin Prison. Execution of 4 individuals in Iran; a political prisoner: the regime's death machine continues to kill without pause. Verification | Claims by an Australian senator regarding women's rights in Iran. Execution of at least four other prisoners in two Iranian prisons.