Brother of Pakhshan Azizi: After the Death Sentence Confirmation, My Sister's Case Has Been Sent to the Execution Office

The brother of Pakhshan Azizi, a political prisoner whose death sentence was confirmed by the Supreme Court, told Radio Farda that his sister's case has been sent to the execution office. Asu Azizi emphasized that his sister's lawyers will file a request for retrial, stating in an interview with Radio Farda: "The Supreme Court and the court previously did not pay attention to the evidence and documents presented, and there is concern that they will ignore these documents again." Mr. Azizi continued, "Since the ruling was issued on Wednesday and administrative offices in Iran are closed on Thursday and Friday, the retrial has not yet been registered, and it is likely that action will be taken in this regard in the coming days." Pakhshan Azizi, a social worker and civil activist, was sentenced to death by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Iman Afshari, on charges of 'Baghi' for 'membership in groups that have engaged in armed uprising against the Islamic government.' Previously, Ms. Azizi had spent some time as a social worker in Syrian Kurdistan, providing assistance to Yazidi women who had escaped from ISIS. The lawyer of this political prisoner announced on Wednesday, January 19, that the death sentence issued by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, despite numerous formal and substantive defects, has been confirmed by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court. Asu Azizi told Radio Farda: "My sister's lawyer had previously requested the court and the Supreme Court to inquire from border provinces to see if Pakhshan Azizi had participated in armed conflict or was part of any group, but this issue was also ignored." The brother of this political prisoner sentenced to death further stated that Pakhshan Azizi has not accepted membership in any group and no evidence has been provided by the Ministry of Intelligence in this regard, and "there is only one report from the interrogator of the case in this regard." He also mentioned that organizations such as the Red Crescent and 'Medico International Switzerland' have confirmed that Pakhshan Azizi has been active as a social worker voluntarily in Syria. Asu Azizi emphasized that up to this moment, it has been the pressure from security institutions that has led to the issuance and confirmation of this sentence. Meanwhile, five political prisoners, in response to the confirmation of the death sentence of Pakhshan Azizi and two other political prisoners in Evin Prison, Behrouz Ehsani and Mahdi Hasani, have called on international organizations, especially the High Council for Human Rights and its special rapporteur, to take action in this regard. Saeed Masouri, Luqman Aminpour, Mohammad Shafaei, Sepehr Imam Jom'e, and Meysam Dehbanzadeh wrote in an open letter from Gohardasht Prison in Karaj that the leader of the Islamic Republic cannot silence people through executions, and increasing killings "will not be a remedy for his incurable pain."