Sharifeh Mohammadi, Labor Activist, Sentenced to Death by Rasht Revolutionary Court

Radio Farda reported on Thursday, July 5, that Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist, has been sentenced to death by the Rasht Revolutionary Court. According to informed sources, the first branch of the Rasht Revolutionary Court, presided over by Ahmad Darvish-Goftar, issued this ruling on the charge of "Baghi" or "armed rebellion against the regime" for this political prisoner. Accordingly, "Ms. Mohammadi's membership in an independent labor organization" has been cited as part of the charges. The "Campaign to Defend Sharifeh Mohammadi" described this labor organization as legal and the court's ruling against her as "medieval and criminal." Vida Mohammadi, Sharifeh's cousin, told Radio Farda about her torture when she was transferred to Sanandaj prison for two months. She stated that prisoners in other cells have repeatedly seen Ms. Mohammadi being tortured. According to Vida Mohammadi, Sharifeh was a member of the Coordination Committee to Help Establish Labor Organizations until ten years ago, a legal and independent organization, but has not been a member since then. She emphasized that Ms. Mohammadi has no affiliation with any political organization inside or outside the country and has only engaged in independent activities for women or in support of workers. Vida Mohammadi stated that issuing such a ruling after ten years and the charge of "Baghi" is "absurd and baseless" and appears to be "targeted and vindictive." She mentioned that this ruling has been communicated to Ms. Mohammadi's husband. Recently, Tomaj Salehi, a protesting singer, was also sentenced to death on the charge of Baghi, a ruling that sparked widespread domestic and international protests, leading the Supreme Court in Iran to ultimately annul this death sentence. Sharifeh Mohammadi was arrested on December 5, 2023, and spent several months in solitary confinement. Reports indicate severe physical and psychological torture on her to obtain forced confessions. Ms. Mohammadi was also deprived of the right to visit her family and make phone calls. The Syndicate of the Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company condemned the charges against this labor activist two days ago, calling the charge of "Baghi" against her "completely baseless" and "utterly false," demanding her immediate and unconditional release. In its statement, the syndicate announced that the "physical pressures and repeated mistreatment" of Sharifeh Mohammadi by the Ministry of Intelligence were so severe that it may have led to prison officials protesting against her beating due to fears for her life. Previously, on July 5 of this year, Sharifeh Mohammadi's mother expressed concern about her daughter's condition in a video and called for information about her. Sharifeh Mohammadi's husband was also arrested for following up on her situation and was recently released. This occurs amid intensified security and judicial crackdowns on labor activists, teachers, and retirees. Following the rampant inflation rates in recent years and the significant gap between household income and expenses, various groups, including workers, teachers, and retirees, have organized widespread protests and strikes in recent years. These protests intensified amid the "Women, Life, Freedom" protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police, but were met with severe government repression.