Iranian Writers Association Condemns Death Sentences

The Iranian Writers Association issued a statement on the anniversary of the November 2019 protests, condemning the death sentences handed down to Varisheh Moradi and Pakhshan Azizi, a social worker and civil activist, as well as the defendants in the case known as the Ekbatan neighborhood. The statement, released on Monday, November 28, recalls the bloody suppression of the November 2019 protests, stating that the Islamic Republic "demonstrates its decision to confront the growing wave of freedom-seeking and awakening of the people through widespread repression and the use of tools such as carrying out death sentences." The statement emphasizes that Moradi and Azizi were deprived of their right to legal counsel, access to their case files, and effective defense during their trial, and that their death sentences were predetermined through an indictment imposed by security agencies. Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran, presided over by Judge Abolqasem Salavati, sentenced Varisheh Moradi, a Kurdish political prisoner, to death on charges of "baghi" (rebellion). Reports indicate that in his initial indictment, a prison sentence was requested, with a maximum penalty of 15 years, but Judge Salavati issued a death sentence instead. Pakhshan Azizi, a social work graduate, was also sentenced to death earlier this August by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, presided over by Iman Afshari, on charges of "baghi" or armed rebellion, through "membership in groups that have risen against the Islamic government." He had previously worked as a social worker in Syrian Kurdistan, helping refugees fleeing the war with ISIS. The Iranian Writers Association also referred to the case known as the Ekbatan neighborhood, stating that the young defendants in this case were sentenced to death in an unclear process, lacking evidence, preventing access for chosen lawyers, and destroying evidence that could prove their innocence, all under direct influence from security advisors. During the "Women, Life, Freedom" protests in November 2022, a Basij force named Arman Ali-Vardi was killed in the Ekbatan neighborhood in northwest Tehran, following which security forces arrested 50 young residents of the neighborhood. Babak Paknia, who represents some of the defendants in this case, recently announced that Branch 13 of the Tehran Criminal Court sentenced six defendants from the "Ekbatan case" to death, including Milad Arman, Alireza Kafayi, Amir Mohammad Khoshghab, Navid Najaran, Hossein Nemat, and Alireza Barmarzpournak. The Iranian Writers Association stated in its statement that "relying on the general spirit of its charter and statutes, it considers the death penalty to be an inhumane punishment and condemns the issuance of such a sentence for all defendants, regardless of their charges or beliefs." This organization also emphasized the right to seek justice and freedom of expression for the victims of the November 2019 protests and the "Women, Life, Freedom" movement, calling on everyone to "raise their voices against repression and executions."