French PEN Calls for the Abolition of the Death Sentence for Pakhshan Azizi

The French PEN Association, supporting the "Women, Life, Freedom" movement in Iran, has called for the abolition of the death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi, a journalist and civil rights activist imprisoned in Iran. The association noted that "journalists, writers, and artists are among the primary targets of the Islamic Republic" and added: "Iranians are currently protesting with the slogan 'Women, Life, Freedom,' risking their lives in the struggle for freedom, human rights, democracy, and freedom of expression, which they have been deprived of since the Islamic Revolution in Iran." The French PEN Association also called for the abolition of the death sentence and the release of Pakhshan Azizi, who was sentenced to death for the charge of 'baghi' (rebellion) after Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist, in recent weeks. The Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Pakhshan Azizi, a civil rights and women's rights activist, to death on the charge of baghi. Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court issued this sentence based on the claim of Ms. Azizi's 'membership' in 'groups that have engaged in armed rebellion against the Islamic government.' This political prisoner has also been sentenced to 'four years of discretionary imprisonment' for the charge of 'membership in PJAK.' This second sentence was officially communicated to her lawyers on August 2. Pakhshan Azizi has previously stated that the authorities of the Islamic Republic tortured her to obtain forced confessions against herself. She said, "I was repeatedly hanged during interrogations, dragged ten meters to the bottom of the ground and then pulled back out, being portrayed as socially defeated and broken." Maziar Tataei and Amir Reisi, Pakhshan Azizi's lawyers, said on August 3 in an interview with 'Shargh Network' that they are preparing to submit a petition for appeal and register an objection to the ruling issued by the Tehran Revolutionary Court. According to Mr. Reisi, "This death sentence was issued for the charge of baghi, and Ms. Azizi has been condemned as someone who has engaged in armed activities in pursuit of the goals of a rebellious group, while she has not participated in any armed operations and has essentially been in Iraq and Syria for seven years." He added that his client, following the crimes of ISIS, was compelled to go to the war refugee camps in the Rojava region of Syria since 2015 and, as a social worker, was helping refugees and victims. Even in the ruling itself, there is no reference to any operation or military confrontation involving Ms. Azizi with any real or legal Iranian governmental or non-governmental entity." These two lawyers expressed hope that this ruling would be overturned in the Supreme Court. The Iran Human Rights Campaign issued a statement on Thursday, August 11, noting the increase in death sentences issued by the judiciary of the Islamic Republic for political prisoners, especially women, and deemed many of the charges as fabricated, calling on the international community to take a stance on this issue. The statement from this campaign noted that the death sentences for Pakhshan Azizi, a Kurdish civil rights activist and social worker, and Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist, have been issued, and Vrisheh Moradi, a Kurdish civil rights activist, and Nasim Simiyari Gholami, among those arrested during the 'Women, Life, Freedom' uprising, are also facing the charge of baghi, which could lead to death sentences. In this context, Hadi Qaemi, the director of the Iran Human Rights Campaign, stated: "The authorities of the Islamic Republic are using the weapon of threats and executions against politically and civilly active women to silence dissenters in the face of the widespread movement of Iranian women." Mr. Qaemi emphasized: "The international community must courageously and decisively call for the immediate end to the issuance and implementation of the inhumane death penalty in Iran before it is too late." The wave of executions, arrests, and gross human rights violations in Iran continues; the global condemnation of the Iran Human Rights Campaign: the international community must take a stance against the issuance of death sentences for political prisoners in Iran. Vida Rabani's letter from Evin: the gap between arrest and delivery of the accused to the judiciary can be filled with any violence. The emphasis of political prisoners in Qazalhessar on the continuation of 'Tuesdays No to Execution'; 8 female prisoners in Rasht have joined the hunger strike.