Criticism from Two Human Rights Organizations on the Reissuance of Death Sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi

On Thursday, February 25, two human rights organizations criticized the reissuance of the death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist imprisoned in Lakan Prison in Rasht. The Iran Human Rights Organization described the reissuance of this sentence as "part of the Islamic Republic's intimidation policy" following the "nationwide protests for women, life, freedom," and called on the international community, especially international labor organizations, to respond to stop executions and to immediately revoke Sharifeh Mohammadi's sentence, especially in light of the unprecedented increase in executions, particularly of women. After the first death sentence was issued for Ms. Mohammadi, many labor unions worldwide condemned it and demanded her immediate and unconditional release. Mahmoud Amiri-Moghaddam, the director of the Iran Human Rights Organization, stated: "The issuance of a death sentence due to membership in a labor organization shows the government's fear of people's organization" and added: "Sharifeh Mohammadi's illegal sentence, issued to suppress civil society at the behest of security agencies, must be condemned in the strongest terms by the international community." The Iran Human Rights Campaign also criticized the "ruthless death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi," stating that this sentence "once again revealed the sham nature of the trials and the severe and ongoing repression of labor and women activists." This human rights organization pointed out that "the judges of both courts that signed the ruthless death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi are father and son," calling it "another clear indication of the Islamic Republic's judiciary's disregard for the most basic legal principles and the principle of judicial independence." The "Campaign to Defend Sharifeh Mohammadi" reported on Thursday, quoting her lawyers, Mohammad Reza Nazari-Najad and Mohammad Reza Sarvari, that Ms. Mohammadi, whose previous death sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court and her case was referred back for reconsideration, has once again been sentenced to death by the second branch of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht. The court session was held on November 24 of this year. According to the ruling from the second branch of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht, which was communicated to Sharifeh Mohammadi's lawyers, she was sentenced to death on charges of "rebellion through membership in one of the opposition groups." Mohammad Ali Darvish-Ghatar, the head of the second branch of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht who confirmed this sentence, is the son of the first branch judge, Ahmad Darvish-Ghatar, who issued the previous ruling. The Campaign to Defend Sharifeh Mohammadi emphasized that "the baseless accusation against Sharifeh, alleging membership in Komala through membership in the Coordination Committee to Help Establish Labor Organizations, is unfounded," asserting that the Coordination Committee is an independent labor organization and is not affiliated with any political group. Sharifeh Mohammadi, 45 years old, from Miyaneh in East Azerbaijan and residing in Rasht, was arrested by agents of the Islamic Republic's Ministry of Intelligence in Rasht on December 5 of last year and was imprisoned for several weeks in solitary confinement in Lakan Prison in Rasht. She was then transferred for several weeks to the Sanandaj Intelligence Office prison and, according to reports, was subjected to psychological and physical torture similar to her detention in Rasht. The Iran Human Rights Organization noted that while the charge of rebellion was issued against Sharifeh Mohammadi, according to her relatives, "Sharifeh Mohammadi has had no armed activities and has only been sentenced to death for her peaceful activities in labor organizations." Vida Mohammadi: The death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi is revenge against women activists. The reissuance of the death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi; the judges of two courts are "father and son." Female prisoners in Lakan Prison in Rasht condemned the issuance of death sentences. The Campaign to Defend Sharifeh Mohammadi called for the release of this labor activist. The Iran Human Rights Campaign: Executions of women in Iran have increased. The death sentence of six political prisoners on charges of "rebellion" was based on "judicial knowledge." A statement from hundreds of civil and human rights activists against widespread executions in Iran. Political female prisoners in Evin: The issuance of death sentences is a reckoning with the people. Concern from the UN fact-finding committee regarding the issuance of a death sentence for Vrisheh Moradi.