Several Labor and Teacher Organizations Demand the Abolition of the Death Sentence for Pakhshan Azizi

A number of labor and teacher organizations in Iran condemned the escalation of death sentences against at least 54 political prisoners, including Pakhshan Azizi, and called for the abolition of the death penalty. The Free Workers Union of Iran and over 10 teachers' associations issued separate statements on Wednesday, January 26, expressing solidarity with the 'Tuesdays No to Execution' campaign, describing the death penalty as 'an obvious crime against the freedom-seeking people of Iran' and a tool for the government to 'suppress society.' The Free Workers Union of Iran's statement pointed out the Islamic Republic's resort to 'increased repression and more frequent use of the death penalty' against civil and political activists, stating: 'The government, unable to solve the most basic crises, is trying to create a serious barrier against widespread and freedom-seeking protests by resorting to the sword and lash.' This labor organization emphasized that 'these policies will lead nowhere, and the people of Iran, who are fed up, will not be intimidated by any degree of repressive policies in defense of their right to life and their human demands.' The Free Workers Union of Iran strongly condemned the death sentences for Pakhshan Azizi, Mojahid Korkor, Mehdi Hasani, Behrouz Ehsani, and the issuance of death sentences against other political prisoners, calling for the 'immediate abolition of death sentences' for political prisoners and their release, as well as the 'abolition of the death penalty and its removal from the country's judicial rulings.' Meanwhile, according to the Coordinating Council of Teachers' Associations of Iran, over 10 teachers' associations issued a statement referring to the confirmation of the death sentences for at least four political prisoners in recent days, including Mojahid Korkor, Pakhshan Azizi, Mehdi Hasani, and Behrouz Ehsani, calling the death penalty 'a tool for intimidation and suppression of society.' These cultural organizations, with 'strong protests' against the confirmation of death sentences for prisoners, considered 'unity, solidarity, and collective action' as the only way to stop the execution process. They wrote: 'Let us support all condemned or at risk of execution prisoners (both political and non-political) together, regardless of the type of accusation and political or ideological orientation, and take practical steps in this direction.' The signatories of the statement include the Teachers' Association of Islamabad Gharb, the Teachers' Association of Islamshahr, the Teachers' Association of Aligudarz County, the Teachers' Association of Bushehr Province, the Teachers' Association of Iran (Tehran), the Teachers' Association of Fars, the Teachers' Association of Kurdistan (Sanandaj), the Teachers' Association of Kurdistan (Saqez and Zivieh), the Teachers' Association of Kurdistan (Marivan and Sarvabad), the Teachers' Association of Mazandaran Province, and the Teachers' Association of Harsin County. On the other hand, a group of women activists held a gathering in front of the Kurdistan Governorate in Sanandaj, demanding the immediate abolition of the death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi and the release of all political and ideological prisoners. The demonstrators, holding images of Pakhshan Azizi and chanting slogans against the death penalty, described the ruling against this political defendant as 'unfair' and a sign of 'clear injustice against his human values and social services.' The confirmation of the death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi, a Kurdish activist and social worker, has faced widespread domestic and international criticism. The United States, dozens of human rights organizations, political prisoners, Amnesty International, and a group of United Nations experts are among the opponents of this ruling. UN experts: The death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi is a serious violation of global laws. The 'Tuesdays No to Execution' campaign warns: the confirmation of the death sentences for 8 Arab and Baluch prisoners continues. The deprivation of several female prisoners in Evin from family visits continues. Sepideh Gholian: The Islamic Republic has thrown a bloody sickle at the prisoners. A statement from 68 human rights and women's organizations: The death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi must be revoked. About 70 political prisoners: The inhumane and reactionary punishment of death must be abolished. Amnesty International: The confirmation of the death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi is unjust.