Human Rights Campaign in Iran: The Global Community Must Take a Stand Against the Issuance of Death Sentences for Political Prisoners

The Human Rights Campaign in Iran issued a statement on Thursday, August 11, highlighting the increase in death sentences issued by the judicial system of the Islamic Republic for women political prisoners and deeming many of the charges fabricated. The statement mentions that death sentences have been issued for Pakhshan Azizi, a Kurdish civil activist and social worker, and Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist, while Vrisheh Moradi, another Kurdish civil activist, and Nasim Simiyari Gholami, a detainee from the Woman-Life-Freedom uprising, are facing charges of 'baghi' which could lead to death sentences. In this context, Hadi Ghaemi, director of the Human Rights Campaign in Iran, stated: 'Islamic Republic officials are using the threat of execution against women political and civil activists to silence dissent in the face of the widespread Iranian women's movement.' Ghaemi emphasized that 'the international community must courageously and decisively demand the immediate end to the inhumane issuance and execution of death sentences in Iran before it is too late.' The Human Rights Campaign in Iran has called on the global community to obligate Islamic Republic officials to revoke all death sentences for political prisoners, including Pakhshan Azizi and Sharifeh Mohammadi. The statement also noted that due to systematic violations of due process, all executions and the issuance of death sentences should be halted. It stresses that the violent repression and illegal prosecution of women activists, who have been brutally targeted solely for their activities, must come to an end. The campaign also reported that at least 295 individuals have been executed in Iranian prisons since the beginning of the calendar year. Criticism of the issuance and execution of death sentences in the Islamic Republic intensified after death sentences were issued for Sharifeh Mohammadi and Pakhshan Azizi in recent months. The issuance of these sentences, particularly regarding Ms. Mohammadi, has provoked a strong reaction from labor unions worldwide. In this regard, the International Confederation of Trade Unions, representing 176 million members from 161 countries, condemned the death sentence against Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist imprisoned in Lakan prison in Rasht, and called for her immediate and unconditional release. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has also expressed concern over the death sentence issued for Ms. Mohammadi on charges of 'baghi,' stating that there are serious concerns regarding the fairness of her trial process. Sharifeh Mohammadi, who was a member of the 'Coordination Committee to Help Establish Labor Organizations' over a decade ago, was arrested last December and sentenced to death on July 14 by the Revolutionary Court of Rasht on charges of 'baghi.' This sentence was based on allegations from the Ministry of Intelligence regarding her membership in 'Komala,' which has been vehemently denied by Ms. Mohammadi, her husband, and Komala itself. The Coordination Committee to Help Establish Labor Organizations, which Ms. Mohammadi was a member of in the 1980s, has also rejected the charges against her. According to reports, Pakhshan Azizi was arrested on August 4, 2023, in Kharazi Town, Tehran, and subjected to interrogation and torture in an intelligence detention center before being transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison and later to the women's ward. In winter 2023, she was accused of 'baghi through membership in opposing groups' by the 5th branch of the Evin Security Prosecutor's Office. This political prisoner appeared in the 26th branch of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran on June 8 and 27, 2024, for the 'baghi' charge, which ultimately led to her death sentence. Pakhshan Azizi, originally from Mahabad and a graduate in social work from Allameh Tabatabai University, was first arrested in November 2009 during a student protest against political executions in Kurdistan and was released on bail of 100 million tomans on March 19, 2010. The wave of executions, arrests, and gross human rights violations in Iran continues; global condemnation is rising. The increase in death sentences for the charge of 'baghi' and the execution of death sentences by the Islamic Republic amidst concerns from human rights activists is alarming. Vida Rabani's letter from Evin: The gap between arrest and delivery of the accused to the judicial system can be filled with any violence. Political prisoners in Qazalhessar emphasize the continuation of 'No to Execution Tuesdays'; eight women prisoners in Rasht have joined a hunger strike. Exclusive: Four political prisoners in Qazalhessar staged a sit-in with the slogan 'The executionist government must be overthrown.' The Islamic Republic's judiciary has accused three protesting citizens in Boukan of 'corruption on earth' and 'moharebeh.' The Revolutionary Court prevented Pakhshan Azizi, the political prisoner sentenced to death, from meeting with her lawyers. The deteriorating physical and mental condition of Saman Yasin; he is transferred daily to the medical facility of Qazalhessar prison. The second session of the trial of eight defendants accused of 'baghi'; Iran Human Rights Organization: The international community must respond to Pakhshan Azizi's death sentence. The International Confederation of Trade Unions: The death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi must be revoked. An informed source: Pakhshan Azizi, the sentenced prisoner, has denied her charges. Users' reactions to the death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi: They are taking revenge on women activists in the most brutal way.