Letter from 17 Human Rights Organizations: The Lives of Pakhshan Azizi and Varisheh Moradi are in Danger

Seventeen human rights organizations expressed concern in an open letter to the German government, the European Parliament, and United Nations human rights bodies regarding the imminent execution of Pakhshan Azizi and Varisheh Moradi, two civil activists in Iran. According to the human rights organization "Hengaw," these 17 organizations urged the German government, the European Parliament, and UN human rights bodies to take action to save the lives of these two Kurdish political prisoners. The letter, published on Monday, March 4, states: "The charges against Ms. Azizi and Moradi are 'fighting for justice and human rights,' and the death sentences are 'not only targeting their lives but also represent an unprecedented violation of the fundamental rights of women, ethnic minorities, and activists worldwide.'" The signatories noted that Pakhshan Azizi "worked as a social worker in northeastern Syria, supporting women and girls who had escaped from ISIS" and added: "Varisheh Moradi fought against ISIS in Kobani, thereby contributing to our security in Europe." They emphasized: "Pakhshan Azizi and Varisheh Moradi symbolically represent many brave women and men in Iran who stand for freedom and justice, enduring unimaginable personal risks in the process." The statement added: "The Islamic Republic of Iran systematically uses the death penalty as a tool for repression to silence dissenting voices; an approach that should not be overlooked by the international community." The signing organizations stated: "We live in an interconnected world where every voice matters, and silence cannot be an alternative. It is our moral and political duty to stand for Pakhshan and Varisheh. By defending them, we support the global human rights that protect us all." They stressed: "As part of the international community and as citizens of a democratic country committed to human rights, we must not allow this injustice to go unheard." The letter called on the German federal government and the European Union to use "all diplomatic tools to ensure the immediate suspension of the death sentences for Pakhshan Azizi and Varisheh Moradi." The UN was also urged to "urgently request Iranian authorities to respect international human rights standards and abolish the death penalty." The letter also called on civil society in Iran to "join this call and its demands, show solidarity, and take a stand against oppression in Iran." The signatories concluded by stating their intention to send a clear message to Pakhshan, Varisheh, and all brave people in Iran that when lives are at risk, the world will not remain silent. In this context, Maryam Klarn, from the human rights organization Hawar Help and daughter of former political prisoner Nahid Taghavi, who was a cellmate of Pakhshan Azizi and Varisheh Moradi, told Voice of America: "This letter is not a request but a serious demand from the German federal government, the European Parliament, and the UN to prevent the execution of Pakhshan and Varisheh." Ms. Klarn emphasized that these two Kurdish civil activists "protected our security in Europe in northeastern Syria" and added: "They should be honored, not treated with a noose." Pakhshan Azizi was sentenced to death and four years in prison on August 24 of this year by Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran, presided over by Iman Afshari, on charges of "rebellion through membership in opposition groups." She was arrested on August 4 of last year along with her father, sister, and sister's husband in Tehran. After about four months in solitary confinement at the Ministry of Intelligence detention center (Ward 209 of Evin Prison), she was transferred to the women's ward of this prison. According to the Iran Human Rights website, security officials accused her of being a member of groups that engage in armed activities against the Islamic Republic, but according to Pakhshan Azizi's lawyer, her humanitarian work "in northeastern Syria in the Shingal refugee camp and other refugee camps from the ISIS war was peaceful and fundamentally non-political, focused on providing aid against ISIS attacks." Additionally, Varisheh Moradi was sentenced to death on November 10 of this year by Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran on charges of "rebellion" (armed uprising against the government). She was arrested on August 1 of last year in the suburbs of Sanandaj and was transferred to the women's ward of this prison on January 25 of the following year after the interrogation process was completed. This political prisoner had previously revealed in an open letter from prison that during her detention, she had been subjected to physical and psychological torture, threats of execution, and gender-based violence.