Italy's Request for Review of Sharifeh Mohammadi's Death Sentence

The campaign defending Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist sentenced to death, announced that Antonio Tajani, Italy's Foreign Minister, has asked Iranian officials to review Ms. Mohammadi's death sentence. According to the campaign, this action followed a request from three labor unions in Italy to the Italian government for immediate efforts to annul Ms. Mohammadi's death sentence. Mr. Tajani also stated that the Italian government seeks full guarantees for the observance of human rights and the cessation of the death penalty by Iranian authorities. In a statement on Saturday, October 7, the campaign expressed gratitude for the efforts of all institutions, organizations, and labor unions, including those in Italy, and welcomed the Italian government's efforts to support Sharifeh Mohammadi. It noted that Ms. Mohammadi's case has been referred to the Supreme Court for nearly two months, but this judicial body has delayed issuing a ruling to overturn the death sentence. The campaign described the Supreme Court's delay in overturning the death sentence and keeping a prisoner, who has been sentenced to death on false charges, in limbo as a case of 'continuing the psychological torture of Sharifeh and her family.' The campaign called for the annulment of the sentence of this imprisoned labor activist in Lakan Prison in Rasht and for a swift ruling of her acquittal. Sharifeh Mohammadi was arrested in December last year and sentenced to death on July 4, 2023, by the Revolutionary Court of Rasht on charges of 'rebellion.' This sentence was issued based on accusations from the Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic regarding Ms. Mohammadi's membership in 'Komala,' which has been strongly denied by Ms. Mohammadi, her husband, Siros Fathi, and the Komala Party. Previously, the campaign defending Sharifeh Mohammadi reported that she was tortured in the detention center of the Ministry of Intelligence in Sanandaj. A large number of human rights, labor, and professional activists in Iran, as well as human rights organizations and labor unions worldwide, along with several Iranian activists, have condemned the death sentence for Ms. Mohammadi.