Human Rights Campaign in Iran: Death Sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi Reflects Dire Situation of Labor Activists

The Human Rights Campaign in Iran on Wednesday, July 18, described the death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi, a jailed labor activist, as indicative of the dire situation faced by labor activists in Iran, who increasingly find themselves in the crosshairs of the repressive apparatus of the Islamic Republic for demanding their rights. This human rights organization wrote based on its research: Iranian authorities are imposing serious national security charges against a growing number of labor activists with the aim of suppressing the labor movement, condemning them to long prison sentences amid increasing repression in recent months. Accordingly, dozens of labor activists have been summoned, arrested, banned from leaving the country, imprisoned, and deprived of medical care behind bars in just the past few months, and most importantly, Sharifeh Mohammadi, a jailed labor activist and mother of a young son, has recently been sentenced to death due to her peaceful activism. Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of the Human Rights Campaign in Iran, stated: "Iranian workers have been imprisoned for years for demanding wages commensurate with living costs or workplace safety, and he called on the international community to speak out on their behalf against this illegal abuse of power in Iran, where no dissent is tolerated. The Human Rights Campaign in Iran further urged the United Nations to strongly condemn the crackdowns and demand that Iranian authorities immediately release these imprisoned activists and revoke the death sentence. The organization also called on world governments to warn their Iranian counterparts about escalating diplomatic and economic isolation if these crackdowns continue. The campaign also urged the International Labor Organization to express its serious concerns regarding violations of the fundamental principles of this global body to the Iranian authorities and to issue a statement if these violations continue. The International Human Rights Campaign, referring to the issuance of the death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi, added: The fabricated charges that include "propaganda against the regime," "disturbing public opinion," and "acting against national security" are typically used by the judiciary against peaceful activists and labor leaders to justify heavy sentences. In this context, Mohammad Reza Nazari Nejad, the lawyer for Sharifeh Mohammadi's case, told the Iran Human Rights Organization on July 18, 2023, that "an appeal for a retrial of Sharifeh Mohammadi's case has been registered with the Supreme Court, and the lawyers are waiting for the branch to be determined in the Supreme Court after the appeal is filed." In the statement of the Human Rights Defense Campaign, the actions of the Islamic Republic were declared as a "serious violation of its commitments under the fundamental principles of the International Labor Organization," of which Iran is a signatory, as well as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, all of which require respect for the right to peaceful protest, strike, and independent collective bargaining. Meanwhile, the campaign defending Sharifeh Mohammadi, in a statement thanking retirees, workers, and teachers for their support of this labor activist, wrote: "Your loud and courageous voice shouting in the streets 'Sharifeh Mohammadi must be freed' and your supportive statements are not only an effort for the unconditional freedom of Sharifeh but also a melody of unity and solidarity among all of us." The statement continued: "The regime's attempt to suppress Sharifeh and others like her is a desperate effort to obstruct our path to unity and organization; an effort that will certainly not succeed against our united resistance." The campaign also reported that Eisa Choolandi and Jamshid Azizi, two political prisoners in Lakan Prison in Rasht, condemned the issuance of the death sentence against Sharifeh Mohammadi. According to this report, Eisa Choolandi, a painter, sculptor, and former professor at Gilan University and one of the detainees from the 2021 protests, and Jamshid Azizi, a contemporary poet currently imprisoned in Lakan Prison for charges of propaganda against the regime, have condemned the death sentence. Meanwhile, the Construction Workers, Forestry, Ports, and Shipping Union of Australia called for the immediate cancellation of Sharifeh Mohammadi's death sentence and her immediate release. The General Confederation of Italian Labor, the Confederation of Italian Trade Unions, and the Italian Labor Union, in a joint letter to the country's foreign minister, called for Italy's immediate intervention to prevent the execution of the "baseless" death sentence and the dismissal of all charges against her, as well as the release of all imprisoned labor and union activists. They emphasized that in the coming months, they will mobilize in all global organizations to once again be the voice of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement. Akram Nasirian, a women's rights activist, dedicated her ascent to Azad Mountain to Sharifeh Mohammadi. Retirees in Kermanshah shouted: 'Sharifeh Mohammadi must be freed.' Gohar Eshghi reacted to the death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi: 'What is her crime? Being a worker?' The campaign defending Sharifeh Mohammadi registered a complaint regarding the death sentence with the United Nations fact-finding committee. Gatherings of retirees in several cities in Iran declared: 'Men and women are equal, united and brave.' The condemnation of Sharifeh Mohammadi's death sentence; the Teachers' Union stated: 'The government is trying to prevent collective organization.' Labor unions in France and Denmark called for the cancellation of Sharifeh Mohammadi's death sentence and her immediate release. The General Confederation of Labor in Italy urged the European Union to mobilize for the cancellation of Sharifeh Mohammadi's death sentence. A hunger strike by 55 political prisoners in Evin Prison; 'Defenders Without Borders' called for the cancellation of Sharifeh Mohammadi's death sentence. Three imprisoned members of the Unit Company Syndicate described the issuance of the death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi as 'insane.'