European Parliament Representative Calls for the Cancellation of Death Sentences for Pakhshan Azizi and Varisheh Moradi

Hanna Neumann, head of the Iran section in the European Parliament, on Thursday, February 4, criticized the human rights violations by the Islamic Republic and called for the cancellation of the death sentences for Pakhshan Azizi and Varisheh Moradi, two Kurdish female political prisoners in Iran. She noted the backgrounds and services of Pakhshan Azizi and Varisheh Moradi, stating that in a normal country, they would be considered 'heroes,' but the Iranian government has sentenced them to death. According to this European Parliament member, the Islamic Republic has threatened to execute Kurdish female political prisoners for the first time in recent years, which she believes is aimed at the government's revenge against women, Kurds, and the ideals of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement. She further added that this revenge is due to the fact that many still dare to protest, and the only response this regime knows is to suppress protests with ruthless force. Hanna Neumann said, 'The regime's henchmen can imprison people, but this will only strengthen the unyielding call for freedom.' Meanwhile, the European Parliament on Thursday approved a resolution condemning human rights violations in Iran. The resolution, presented by Daniel Otten and several other members of the European Parliament, was overwhelmingly adopted in Brussels. This resolution condemns the systematic human rights violations by the Islamic Republic in Iran. It calls for increased financial support for Iranian civil society while referencing the human rights violations and persecution of minorities by the government. The cases of Pakhshan Azizi and Varisheh Moradi are central to this resolution, which demands the cancellation of their death sentences. The resolution also calls for the cancellation of death sentences and the release of all citizens of European countries who are 'hostages' in the prisons of the Islamic Republic. The 'suspension' of Pakhshan Azizi's death sentence coincides with the strike of merchants in Kurdish cities. Government media claimed a 'postponement' of the execution of Pakhshan Azizi. Human Rights Watch: The repression of women, dissenters, and minorities in Iran continues. The UN Special Rapporteur expressed concern over the confirmation of Pakhshan Azizi's death sentence. The United States urged the Islamic Republic to cancel Pakhshan Azizi's death sentence and condemned the 'increasing use of executions by the Iranian regime to suppress the people.'