Human Rights Watch: Masoud Bezgian Should Start Real Changes by Halting Death Sentences

Human Rights Watch condemned the death sentence issued for Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor rights activist in Iran, and urged Masoud Bezgian to start real changes by halting death sentences. In a statement published on Thursday, July 19, the organization quoted Nahid Naghashbandi, head of Iran research at the organization, stating that "Iranian officials not only relentlessly target women activists but also carry out more attacks and repression against women from ethnic and religious minorities." Naghashbandi called on Masoud Bezgian, the elected president of Iran, to "begin by stopping this ongoing repression, including death sentences, if he wants to show that he represents real change." The Revolutionary Court in Rasht sentenced Mohammadi to death for "baghi" or "armed rebellion against the regime" just one day before the second round of Iran's presidential elections, which provoked widespread reactions from civil and political activists. Sharifeh Mohammadi, 45, from Miyaneh in East Azerbaijan and residing in Rasht, was arrested by the Rasht Intelligence Department on December 5, 2023, on charges of "propaganda against the regime." Sources from Radio Farda indicate that despite her social concerns, she had no political activities, and the death sentence against this labor activist with the attributed charge of "baghi" was aimed at "intimidating the labor movement" in Iran. A source close to Mohammadi's family told the Hara News Agency that this labor activist had been a member of the Labor Organizations Association until 2013, and this group "has no connection with the Komala Party of Iran." Human Rights Watch also stated that "Iranian officials have shown their disregard for the rights of minorities and women through brutal repression of protests and the arrest and mistreatment of women activists." The organization called for the immediate and unconditional release of Sharifeh Mohammadi. In response to the death sentence for Mohammadi, three imprisoned members of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Workers Syndicate issued a statement demanding the annulment of this sentence and her immediate unconditional release. The Telegram channel of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Workers Syndicate published a statement from Reza Shahabi, Davood Razavi, and Hassan Saidi on Thursday, July 21, stating that the death sentence for Mohammadi is "insane" and the charge of "baghi" against her is "baseless." A group of female prisoners held in Evin Prison also condemned the death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi, warning that this could be a precursor to issuing "heavier sentences" for other opponents of the Islamic Republic.