Lawyer of Sharifeh Mohammadi: Judiciary Did Not Respond to Our Legal Objections

Amir Reysyan, one of the lawyers for Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist sentenced to death and imprisoned in Lakan Prison in Rasht, states that none of the objections raised against the officer's report were addressed. Mr. Reysyan told 'Shargh' that the officer's report in Branch 2 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Rasht is considered 'evidence' and the gaps identified by the lawyers were 'completely ignored.' This lawyer added that the proceedings in criminal cases must occur in the presence of the accused and that the trial process must be recorded; however, his client was only present via conference call during the hearing. Mr. Reysyan explained that after the hearing, without the officer's report being communicated, the court corresponded with the officer without their knowledge and issued a ruling based on that. Amir Reysyan stated that this action is 'against the law' and added that they will appeal again. The 'Campaign to Defend Sharifeh Mohammadi,' managed by her family members, reported on February 14 that a new death sentence was issued against this labor activist during the retrial phase. This death sentence had previously been overturned by the Supreme Court, and her case had been referred to a parallel branch. The campaign also mentioned that Mohammad Ali Darvish-Ghattar, the head of Branch 2 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Rasht, who confirmed this ruling, is the son of Judge Ahmad Darvish-Ghattar, who issued the previous ruling. Sharifeh Mohammadi was arrested in December 2023. The Islamic Revolutionary Court in Rasht sentenced her to death on July 5, 2024, on charges of membership in an opposition group (Komala Party) and 'rebellion.' This accusation has been denied by her, her husband, her family, and the Komala Party. Members of the Coordination Committee for Help to Establish Labor Organizations have also rejected the accusation of connection with this party. The charge against Ms. Mohammadi at the time of her arrest was 'activities against the regime.' The 'Campaign to Defend Sharifeh Mohammadi' had previously reported on the torture she endured in the detention center of the Islamic Republic's Ministry of Intelligence in Sanandaj. The issuance of the death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi has been met with widespread protests from labor unions, syndicates, and human rights organizations. Amnesty International strongly criticized the reissuance of the death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist imprisoned in Lakan Prison in Rasht, on February 16. This human rights organization emphasized on its Instagram account that 'the international community, including the United Nations and the European Union, must immediately demand that Iranian officials halt any plans to carry out her execution and release her immediately.' The organization called for immediate action from the international community. Protests from dozens of lawyers against the death sentences of three political prisoners: a violation of human rights. Criticism from two human rights organizations regarding the reissuance of the death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi. Professional organizations condemned the reissuance of the death sentence against Sharifeh Mohammadi. The reissuance of the death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi; the judges of the two courts are 'father and son.'