Over 200 Lawyers in Iran Demand Halt to Execution of Three Women Activists

More than 200 lawyers in Iran published an open letter addressed to the head of the judiciary of the Islamic Republic, demanding an immediate halt to the death sentences of Pakhshan Azizi, Varishe Moradi, and Sharifeh Mohammadi, describing the handling of their cases as ambiguous and incomplete. This letter, published on Tuesday, February 29, emphasizes that the execution of these three individuals is not only in conflict with Islamic principles, humanitarian values, and human rights standards, but also contradicts Iran's international commitments regarding the right to life and fair trial. The 229 lawyers stated in their letter: 'Pakhshan Azizi, Varishe Moradi, and Sharifeh Mohammadi stand on the brink of death, which is not a judgment of justice, but a hasty decision derived from a process full of ambiguity.' They also warned about the social and ethical consequences of carrying out these death sentences, stating that it would not only 'intensify feelings of psychological insecurity and distrust in the criminal justice system,' but could also have 'irreparable effects on national solidarity and feelings of discrimination among Kurdish citizens.' The signatories of this letter called for a re-examination of the cases of these three individuals in a 'fair, transparent, and just legal process.' Pakhshan Azizi had previously worked as a social worker in Syria, assisting Yazidi women who had escaped from ISIS. However, according to her lawyer, the appellate judge upheld her death sentence based on a 'misconception' that she was a member of ISIS. The Iranian judiciary also sentenced Varishe Moradi and Sharifeh Mohammadi to death on charges of membership in armed groups opposing the Iranian government, an accusation that has been strongly denied by these prisoners and their lawyers. On Tuesday, Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer and human rights activist, along with Sediqeh Vosoughi, a government-critical Islamic scholar, issued a joint statement calling the death sentences for Pakhshan Azizi, Varishe Moradi, and Sharifeh Mohammadi 'an obvious revenge against the Woman, Life, Freedom movement' and demanded the immediate cancellation of these sentences. Ms. Sotoudeh and Ms. Vosoughi also condemned all death sentences issued against youth and called for the swift annulment of the sentences against Pakhshan Azizi, Varishe Moradi, and Sharifeh Mohammadi.