Campaign for Sharifeh Mohammadi Reports Submission of Request to Cancel Her Death Sentence to the UN Secretary-General

The campaign defending Sharifeh Mohammadi, a death row prisoner held in Lakan Prison in Rasht, announced on Saturday, August 25, that it has submitted a letter requesting the cancellation of her death sentence to the office of the UN Secretary-General. The campaign stated that it received confirmation that the letter sent to the UN Secretary-General's office has been registered and is under consideration for action. In this protest letter, while referring to Sharifeh's civil activities and the baselessness of the charges of 'baghi' (rebellion) and the death sentence, the campaign requested the UN Secretary-General to take action against this ruling. The campaign emphasized in its letter to the UN Secretary-General that 'her death sentence is not only a ruling against one person and one woman but also a declaration of war by the Islamic Republic against all activists and civil organizations, and for this reason, it is necessary for the UN Secretary-General to intervene seriously in this matter.' The campaign clarified that this letter was sent through one of the UN officials specifically for the UN Secretary-General, and a copy of the letter was also sent to various UN officials. Sharifeh Mohammadi was arrested in December of last year and on July 4, 2023, was sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court of Rasht on charges of 'baghi.' This ruling was issued based on accusations from the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence regarding Ms. Mohammadi's membership in 'Komala,' which has been vehemently denied by Ms. Mohammadi, her husband, Siros Fathi, and the Komala Party. Sharifeh Mohammadi's case is currently under review by the Supreme Court of the country. Human rights, labor, and professional organizations in Iran, as well as human rights organizations and labor unions worldwide, along with several Iranian activists, have condemned the issuance of the death sentence for Ms. Mohammadi. Protesting retirees in Shush have chanted: 'Sharifeh Mohammadi must be freed.' There are concerns from human rights organizations about more executions ahead of the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death. A representative from the Catalonia Parliament in Spain has taken political responsibility for the case of Pakhshan Aziz. Dozens of human rights organizations have called for international investigations into the 'brutal repression' of female prisoners in Evin. The UN fact-finding committee regarding Iran has deemed the government's behavior against Sharifeh Mohammadi as 'a violation of human rights.'