Human Rights Organizations Express Concern Over Increased Executions Ahead of Second Anniversary of Mahsa Amini's Death

The Guardian reported on concerns from several human rights organizations regarding further executions by the Islamic Republic ahead of the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death in the custody of the morality police. The number of executions in Iran has seen an upward trend in the past month, with 87 individuals executed since the government elections in Iran. The British newspaper noted that pressures on female political prisoners in Iran have also increased. Reports indicate that about 70 female political prisoners are held in Evin prison, and two of them, Pakhshan Azizi, a journalist and civil activist from Mahabad, and Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist, have been sentenced to death on charges of 'rebellion.' Two other activists, Varisheh Moradi and Nasim Gholami Simyari, are facing similar charges. Hadi Ghaemi, director of the Iran Human Rights Campaign, told The Guardian, 'Islamic Republic officials, in facing the women's movement in Iran that is unwilling to retreat, are trying to threaten women with the gallows and silence dissenters.' The Guardian's report also mentioned the beating of several female political prisoners in Evin, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi, by Islamic Republic agents. These prisoners staged a peaceful sit-in on August 7 after learning about the execution of Reza Rasayi, a protester from Shahin Dezh in Kermanshah province and a follower of the Yarsan faith, which led to a crackdown by security forces. The Human Rights Activists News Agency reported on Friday, September 23, that 15 female political prisoners in Evin have been deprived of phone contact and family visits since August 7. UN human rights experts announced on Tuesday, August 30, that the Iranian government has denied timely and adequate healthcare access to Narges Mohammadi and other detainees despite repeated requests. Zainab Bayzidi, a former political prisoner and friend of Pakhshan Azizi, told The Guardian that she believes the Islamic Republic is 'retaliating' against the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement and aims to eliminate this unified struggle against the regime by issuing death sentences against women and ethnic minorities. Sharifeh Mohammadi's family is also concerned about the psychological harm inflicted on her 12-year-old son, who they do not know how to inform about her death sentence, and they plan to seek help from a child counselor. The Human Rights Watch announced on Tuesday, August 30, that the Iranian judiciary has executed at least 87 individuals in the month following the recent presidential elections in Iran. Amnesty International has also reported that the Islamic Republic was responsible for 74% of all recorded executions worldwide last year. The executed individuals include ethnic minorities, especially Baluchis, women, and those who were minors at the time of the crime. The latest status of Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist sentenced to death, was discussed in an interview with Mazdak Azar. The UN criticized the 'gross violations' of the rights of ethnic and religious minorities in the protests of the past five years in Iran. Criticism of the 'alarming increase' in executions in Iran; Human Rights Watch: Death sentences must be revoked. The U.S. State Department expressed concern over the beating of Narges Mohammadi and other female prisoners in Evin. Dozens of human rights organizations have called for international investigations into the 'brutal repression' of female prisoners in Evin. Eight prisoners were executed in Yazd and Shiraz prisons; the trend of executing death sentences continues in Iranian prisons. Two human rights organizations warned about the 'worrisome situation' in Iran: immediate international attention is needed. A representative from the Catalonia Parliament in Spain has taken on the political sponsorship of Pakhshan Azizi.