Prison Sentences for 3 Family Members of Pakhshan Azizi, Civil Activist Sentenced to Death, Confirmed by Appeals Court

The Freedom Campaign for Pakhshan Azizi announced on Thursday, October 5, that the one-year prison sentences for three members of his family have been confirmed by the Tehran Appeals Court amid ongoing pressures on Azizi, a civil activist sentenced to death, and his family. The Freedom Campaign for Pakhshan Azizi wrote on social media platform 'X' that according to the law, the father, sister, and son-in-law of the family have been convicted in the same case, which has been sent to the Supreme Court following an appeal made by their lawyers. Pakhshan Azizi was arrested on August 4, 2023, in Tehran. Several of his family members were also arrested at the same time and released after a few days of interrogation. Subsequently, Ms. Azizi was accused in the winter of that year of 'rebellion through membership in opposition groups' and was sentenced to death in June 2024. She and her defense lawyers have denied any involvement in armed operations. At that time, three family members were also sentenced to one year in prison each on charges of what was termed 'assisting a criminal to evade trial and conviction.' This political prisoner, originally from Mahabad and a graduate in social work from Allameh Tabatabai University, was first arrested in November 2009 during a student protest against political executions and was released on bail of 100 million tomans on March 18, 2010. The Justice for Iran organization, along with 25 other human rights organizations, issued a statement on September 11 of this year criticizing the death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi and called on the international community and human rights organizations to take immediate and effective action to prevent the execution of this sentence. Continued pressure on three political prisoners includes deprivation of medical care, visitation rights with lawyers and family, and denial of leave. Narges Mohammadi's request to the General Assembly: help stop human rights violations in Iran. Increased pressure on Pakhshan Azizi in Evin; this death-sentenced prisoner is deprived of access to a doctor. French unions have called for the release of imprisoned labor and civil activists in Iran.