Appeal Filed for Review of Sharifeh Mohammadi's Case, Imprisoned Labor Activist Sentenced to Death

On Wednesday, July 18, the Iran Human Rights Organization reported that an appeal has been registered for a review of the case of Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist imprisoned and sentenced to death, "in the Supreme Court of the country." The organization quoted "a source familiar with the status of this labor activist's case" on the social media platform "X" stating: "The lawyers of the case are awaiting the assignment of a branch in the Supreme Court after the appeal has been registered." According to this source, Sharifeh Mohammadi's family and her lawyers are hopeful that the ruling issued by the Revolutionary Court of Rasht will be overturned in the Supreme Court. The Iran Human Rights Organization, referring to Mohammadi's "temporary detention" since December 5 of last year, described the ruling of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht as "unjust and inhumane" and added that this labor activist has been "subjected to beatings and torture by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence to extract forced confessions against herself during her detention." Sharifeh Mohammadi, who was a member of the "Coordination Committee for Help to Establish Labor Organizations" over a decade ago, was arrested in December of last year and on July 4 was sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court of Rasht on charges of "baghi" (rebellion). This ruling was based on accusations from the Islamic Republic's Ministry of Intelligence regarding her alleged membership in "Komala," which has been vehemently denied by Mohammadi, her husband, Sirous Fathi, and Komala itself. Additionally, the Coordination Committee for Help to Establish Labor Organizations, which Mohammadi was a member of in the 1980s, has rejected the accusations against her. Reports indicate that she has been tortured, and government agents have accused her of "membership in the armed Komala group" without any evidence. In this context, the campaign to defend Sharifeh Mohammadi released a statement on Wednesday featuring an image of an official letter registered with the Secretariat of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare of the Islamic Republic on March 7, 2012, from the Coordination Committee for Help to Establish Labor Organizations. This organization, emphasized by this campaign and also labor and professional organizations in Iran, is described as "an independent labor organization" and Mohammadi was a member of it 13 years ago, having signed and registered it with the ministry. According to the letter published by this campaign, the Coordination Committee for Help to Establish Labor Organizations registered an official letter with the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare requesting that the ministry provide a hall for the organization to hold its annual general assembly. The campaign to defend Sharifeh Mohammadi added that "the Ministry of Labor has never informed this organization that it is illegal" and stated: "Based on information provided by this committee, the General Directorate of Labor and Employer Organizations of the Ministry of Labor had told this organization that unfortunately, the Ministry of Labor does not have many facilities and this organization can hold its general assembly by renting a place." The campaign announced that all members of the Coordination Committee for Help to Establish Labor Organizations are "active and well-known social figures in the country" and emphasized: "The establishment of independent labor organizations is the right of all individuals and is free, in accordance with Article 26 of the Constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Iran has signed and is committed to implementing." According to this statement, this document "is proof that this labor organization is completely legal and public and engaged in social and civil activities and has not even had political activities, let alone any connection or agreement with a foreign organization that believes in armed activity." The campaign to defend Sharifeh Mohammadi wrote: "The death sentence issued against Sharifeh Mohammadi is simply and horrifically based on the will and desire of the judge and the intelligence services to instill fear among social and civil activists, lacking any reference to facts and realities, and must be immediately revoked, and Sharifeh Mohammadi must be freed, and the judicial system must compensate for the physical and psychological damages inflicted on her and her family." Previously, the campaign to defend Sharifeh Mohammadi had announced in a statement that a detailed report and file of multiple human rights violations committed by the security and judicial institutions of the Islamic Republic against Mohammadi has been sent to the UN Human Rights Council regarding Iran and registered in that body. The campaign also noted that "a complaint is also in progress in this regard" and added: "In the report sent to the UN Human Rights Council, all instances of harassment, torture, violations of basic rights in the judicial process, violations of citizenship rights in the matter of independent organization formation, and the issuance of a death sentence based on baseless claims, and dozens of other detailed issues have been addressed in detail, accurately, and documented, prepared with the expert opinion of domestic and international human rights experts." The campaign to defend Sharifeh Mohammadi indicated that other complaints and reports will soon be registered and pursued with other international bodies and authorities. Akram Nasirian, a women's rights activist, dedicated her ascent to Mount Azad to Sharifeh Mohammadi. Retirees in Kermanshah: "Sharifeh Mohammadi must be freed." Gohar Eshghi reacted to the death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi: "What is her sin? Being a worker?" Your submission | A group of Iranians protested the death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi in Vancouver on Sunday. Retirees gathered in Tehran: "Sharifeh Mohammadi must be freed." Retirees in Shush: "We condemn the death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi." Retirees gathered in several cities in Iran: "Women and men are equal, united, and brave." The condemnation of the death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi continues from organizations in Iran. The Teachers' Syndicate: The government is trying to prevent collective organization. Labor unions in France and Denmark have called for the abolition of Sharifeh Mohammadi's death sentence and her immediate release. The General Confederation of Labor in Italy: The European Union should mobilize to abolish Sharifeh Mohammadi's death sentence. A hunger strike by 55 political prisoners in Evin Prison; "Doctors Without Borders" called for the abolition of Sharifeh Mohammadi's death sentence. Three imprisoned members of the Unit Company Syndicate: The issuance of a death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi is "insane." A protest by 15 religious reformists against the death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi: Freedom-seekers and justice-seekers should not remain silent in the face of this right-killing. The condemnation of the issuance of a death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi continues from organizations in Iran. Amnesty International has called for the abolition of the death sentence and the immediate release of Sharifeh Mohammadi.