Death Sentence of Pakhshan Azizi Confirmed by Supreme Court

Amir Reysian, a lawyer, announced that the Supreme Court has confirmed the death sentence of Pakhshan Azizi, a social worker and civil activist. He stated that the death sentence issued by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, despite numerous formal and substantive flaws, has been upheld by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court. Reysian expressed that the Supreme Court did not consider any of the objections and evidence presented in this case and ignored Azizi's peaceful activities in the refugee camps of Shingal, Iraq, and war-torn areas of Syria, which lacked any political or military nature. The lawyer of Pakhshan Azizi expressed concern over 'unpleasant news' and the rushed handling of the case. He also emphasized that issuing such a ruling contradicts the country's judicial policy regarding 'capital punishment' and 'previous judicial practices.' Reysian expressed hope that by submitting a request for retrial, the objections in the case would be reviewed and the execution would be prevented. Pakhshan Azizi, a social worker and civil activist, was sentenced to death in early August this year by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Iman Afshari, on charges of 'baghy' through 'membership in groups that have engaged in armed rebellion against the Islamic government.' He had previously spent some time as a social worker in Syrian Kurdistan, helping refugees who had fled from the war with ISIS. On Wednesday, Narges Mohammadi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate currently on medical leave from prison, stated that the confirmation of Pakhshan Azizi's death sentence is indicative of the Islamic Republic's determination to intensify the repression of women and take revenge on the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement. She wrote on her Instagram account that the Islamic Republic aims to demonstrate terror and revenge to the Iranian people by commencing the execution of 'political prisoner women.' She called for the silence of 'the Iranian people, freedom-loving individuals worldwide, human rights organizations, and the United Nations' not to be tolerated in the face of execution policies. In September of this year, 26 human rights organizations issued a joint statement condemning the death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi, deeming it a 'clear violation of human rights principles and standards.' In November, seven political prisoners who shared a cell with Pakhshan Azizi issued a statement condemning the death sentence for this civil activist and called for immediate action to save him.