Condemnation of Death Sentence Against Sharifeh Mohammadi Continues from Global Labor Unions

The condemnation of the death sentence against Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist imprisoned in Lakan Prison in Rasht, continues from labor unions around the world. Simultaneously, on Saturday, July 30, protests were held in several cities in Germany, including Hanover, against this ruling. In the latest statement, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the largest labor union in the country, condemned Ms. Mohammadi's death sentence in a letter to the authorities of the Islamic Republic, calling for its cancellation and her unconditional release, as well as that of other imprisoned labor and civil rights activists in Iran. According to the Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, the Canadian union described the death penalty as an 'unjust punishment' issued based on 'baseless and unfounded accusations of rebellion,' emphasizing that this ruling was issued without any transparency or legal procedures. The Canadian public employees' union stated in part of its statement that with 750,000 members, it 'joins the international labor movement in condemning this unjust ruling,' demanding the immediate cancellation of this unfair sentence, the unconditional release of Ms. Mohammadi, and the freedom of all imprisoned labor and civil rights activists in Iran. The letter stated that 'false accusations and legal fabrications against labor activists, women, and civil rights are a common strategy to silence dissent in Iran and many other countries around the world.' The Canadian Union of Public Employees pointed out that 'the reliance of judges and the judiciary on the same security institutions that prepared these false accusations is in a situation where they lack independence to make independent decisions and have long violated human rights principles and fundamental legal values.' The largest labor union in Canada emphasized that the issuance of death sentences is a 'brutal practice' for which the entire Islamic Republic government must be held accountable. Previously, three labor organizations from Italy; the General Confederation of Italian Labor, the Confederation of Italian Trade Unions, and the Italian Labor Union had written to the country's foreign minister, calling for immediate government intervention to prevent the execution of Sharifeh Mohammadi. According to the 'Campaign to Defend Sharifeh Mohammadi,' they described the ruling against Ms. Mohammadi as 'part of a systematic action and strategy by security institutions to spread fear and marginalize social movements in future developments,' and noted the victory of Masoud Pezeshkian, who was introduced as 'Islamic President' following a government vote, adding that despite Western media recognizing him as a reformist, the repression, violence, torture, and killing of women activists and human rights defenders continue. The General Confederation of Italian Labor, the Confederation of Italian Trade Unions, and the Italian Labor Union also wrote that this death sentence, 'issued with the aim of instilling fear in civil society and the political opposition in Iran and compelling the people of Iran to obedience through various forms of coercion and violence,' is absolutely condemned. These three Italian labor organizations pointed out the severe security and judicial crackdowns by the Islamic Republic against workers and their labor activists coinciding with the expansion of labor protests, stating that dozens of union members are in prison, and many have been forced to flee their homeland with their families due to fear of retaliation, harassment, and violence. Additionally, labor unions in France and Denmark have called for the cancellation of Sharifeh Mohammadi's death sentence and her immediate release. These three organizations announced that in the coming months, they will mobilize in all international organizations to once again be the voice of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement and convey their comprehensive message of solidarity to all those who, despite the risk of death in Iran, fight for democracy, labor rights, and human rights. They urged the Italian government to use its diplomatic channels to request the immediate and unconditional cancellation of Sharifeh Mohammadi's death sentence and the unconditional release of all protesters and political prisoners in Iran. In this letter, it was stated that the struggle for the cancellation of this sentence and the liberation of Sharifeh Mohammadi and other political prisoners and labor and civil activists is a crucial and decisive front in the Iranian people's fight for freedom, and these organizations, as an independent, self-sustaining, and international labor movement, will stand by the people of Iran until the rule of law is established in Iran and civil, social, and ideological freedoms are respected. In recent days, five labor unions in France, eight labor unions in Denmark, and the Australian union of construction, forestry, maritime, and transport workers have condemned the death sentence against Sharifeh Mohammadi and called for her release and that of other imprisoned labor and civil activists in Iran. The 'National Committee to Abolish the Death Penalty for Sharifeh Mohammadi' has called on labor unions around the world, workers' rights defenders, and women's rights organizations to intensify their efforts to prevent Sharifeh Mohammadi's death sentence. According to the 'News Day' website, this call emphasized that Ms. Mohammadi was sentenced to death for her membership in the 'Coordination Committee to Help Establish Labor Organizations,' an independent and public organization formed by independent labor activists. The National Committee to Abolish the Death Penalty for Sharifeh Mohammadi concluded its call by stating that only through protests against this ruling and the global labor solidarity can the lives of Sharifeh and dozens of labor activists, women, and other social activists be saved. Meanwhile, a number of Iranians residing in Germany, including political activists and labor rights defenders, protested on Saturday, July 30, in several cities in the country against the death sentence against Sharifeh Mohammadi. The protesters demanded the cancellation of this sentence and the swift release of this imprisoned labor activist. In recent days, human rights, labor, and civil organizations in Iran, as well as human rights organizations and labor unions worldwide, along with several Iranian activists such as Masih Alinejad and Hamid Ismailioun, have condemned the death sentence for Ms. Mohammadi. Sharifeh Mohammadi, who had been a member of the 'Coordination Committee to Help Establish Labor Organizations' over a decade ago, was arrested in December of last year and sentenced to death on July 14 by the Revolutionary Court of Rasht on charges of 'rebellion.' This sentence was issued based on accusations from the Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic regarding Ms. Mohammadi's membership in 'Komala,' which has been vehemently denied by Ms. Mohammadi, her husband, Sirous Fathi, and Komala. Additionally, the Coordination Committee to Help Establish Labor Organizations, of which Sharifeh Mohammadi was a member 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. Meanwhile, this organization has also denied this claim.