Dozens of Lawyers Protest Death Sentences for Three Political Prisoners: A Violation of Human Rights

More than two hundred lawyers in Iran issued a statement protesting the death sentences for Pakhshan Azizi, Varisheh Moradi, and Sharifeh Mohammadi, three female political prisoners. 229 lawyers signed the statement demanding an "immediate halt to the execution" of Pakhshan Azizi and the "observance of legal rights" for Varisheh Moradi (Mirzaei) and Sharifeh Mohammadi in their appeals against the death sentences. The signatories emphasized the fundamental right to life, stating: "The death penalty, especially in cases that have legal ambiguities and doubts, cannot guarantee the execution of justice, but rather is a clear violation of human rights." They pointed out the need for fair trials, deeming the cases of Pakhshan Azizi, Varisheh Moradi (Mirzaei), and Sharifeh Mohammadi as having "serious ambiguities and deficiencies in the proceedings, access to a lawyer, examination of evidence, and impartiality in judgment." In another part of their protest statement, these 229 lawyers warned of the "heavy consequences" of executing these three political prisoners for society, writing: "This action not only exacerbates the sense of psychological insecurity and distrust in the criminal justice system but could also have an irreparable impact on national solidarity and feelings of discrimination among Kurdish citizens." The signatories further called on the judiciary of the Islamic Republic to "consider fair and just proceedings in light of the principles of justice, legal standards, and human criteria, and to refrain from executing a sentence that could have irreparable consequences." Among the signatories are Abdolsamad Khormashahi, Mohammad Saleh Naghrekari, Mahdokht Damghanpour, and Mostafa Torkhamdani. The issuance of death sentences for Pakhshan Azizi, Varisheh Moradi, and Sharifeh Mohammadi has faced widespread domestic and international criticism. Members of the "Tuesdays Against Execution" campaign warned on Tuesday, February 23, that if Pakhshan Azizi is taken for execution, they will adopt new strategies to counter this inhumane sentence. Amnesty International and several labor and teacher organizations have also criticized the reissuance of the death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist imprisoned in Lakan prison in Rasht. Hana Neumann, head of the Iran section in the European Parliament, also criticized human rights violations by the Islamic Republic on Thursday, February 4, calling for the cancellation of the death sentences for Pakhshan Azizi and Varisheh Moradi, two Kurdish female political prisoners in Iran. Numerous protests have been held in various cities around the world against the death sentences for these three female political prisoners. A protest in Cologne, Germany, opposed the death penalty and called for the release of political prisoners - February 27, 1403. Amnesty International: The global community calls for the halt of executions and the release of Sharifeh Mohammadi. Warning from the "Tuesdays Against Execution" campaign about the danger of executing Pakhshan Azizi. Autopsy of Jamshid Sharmad in Germany; the time of report release is unspecified.