Statement from 5 Labor and Civil Organizations Against Executions: Inhumane Sentences Against Sharifeh Mohammadi and Pakhshan Azizi Must Be Revoked

In response to widespread criticism of the death sentences issued for political prisoners by the judiciary of the Islamic Republic, five labor, women's, and retirees' organizations issued a joint statement condemning the "unjust and extremely cruel" death sentences for Sharifeh Mohammadi and Pakhshan Azizi, calling for the revocation of these "inhumane sentences" and their immediate release from prison. The Syndicate of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Workers, Bidarzani, the Retirees' Union, the Coordination Committee to Help Establish Labor Organizations, and the Retired Workers of Khuzestan noted in their statement that Sharifeh Mohammadi was arrested for her labor and civil activities, deeming the death sentence against her a result of "fabricated case-making." They emphasized that Ms. Mohammadi is an "independent labor activist" who helped organize and establish labor unions and added that she was labeled a "rebel" with the false pretext that the mentioned organization was affiliated with an armed political movement at war with the government, leading to her execution sentence based on the fabricated charge of rebellion. Sharifeh Mohammadi, who had been a member of the "Coordination Committee to Help Establish Labor Organizations" over a decade ago, was arrested in December of last year, and the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Rasht sentenced her to death for "rebellion" on July 4. This sentence was issued based on allegations from the Ministry of Intelligence regarding Ms. Mohammadi's membership in "Komala," which has been vehemently denied by Sharifeh Mohammadi herself, her husband, and the Komala group. The Coordination Committee to Help Establish Labor Organizations, which Sharifeh Mohammadi was part of in the 80s, also rejected the accusations against her. Reports indicate that she has been tortured, and government agents have accused her of "membership in the armed Komala group" without any evidence. The Komala organization has also denied this claim. The statement from the five labor, women's, and retirees' organizations regarding Pakhshan Azizi, a journalist and civil activist, notes that this social worker, who has been affected by the regressive actions of ISIS, has also been sentenced to death on similar charges. Pakhshan Azizi, a civil and women's rights activist, has also been sentenced to death for rebellion by the Islamic Revolutionary Court. Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court issued this sentence based on claims of her "membership" in groups that have engaged in armed rebellion against the Islamic government. This political prisoner has also been sentenced to four years in prison for the charge of "membership in PJAK." This second sentence was officially communicated to her lawyers on August 24. Pakhshan Azizi has previously stated that Islamic Republic officials tortured her to force her to confess against herself, saying she was "repeatedly hanged during interrogation, taken 10 meters down into the ground, and then brought back up, being considered socially humiliated and defeated." The signatories of the statement noted that Varisheh Moradi and Nasim Gholami-Simiari are also awaiting their sentences on similar charges and added that government and judiciary pressures against labor and civil activists are not limited to these cases. The statement further adds that "these pressures have intensified, especially after the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement, reaching more acute stages." The signatory organizations referenced heavy prison sentences issued for several women's rights activists in Gilan province and mentioned the arrests of many labor activists and teachers over the past two years, naming some of them such as Reyhaneh Ansarinezha, Reza Shahabi, Hassan Saidi, Davood Razavi, and Rasoul Badaghi. From the statement: The government and its agents seek to take revenge on the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement and create fear among social movement activists, as well as prevent the continuation of the growing protests of workers and the oppressed against inequality, poverty, inflation, and increasing economic and livelihood deprivation by intensifying pressure on labor and social activists. According to the statement, "the government and its agents, after the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement, have sought to take revenge on that movement and, in their belief, create fear among social movement activists, as well as prevent the continuation of protests and demands for rights by the increasingly mobilized workers and the oppressed against inequality, poverty, inflation, and rising prices and various economic and livelihood deprivations, intensifying pressure on labor and social activists and sacrificing them through fabricated cases and scenarios, even if they have committed no crime." The issuance of the death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi, following the condemnation of Sharifeh Mohammadi, and the attribution of the charge of rebellion to Varisheh Moradi and Nasim Gholami-Simiari is "an effort by the government and the judiciary to intensify pressure against workers, teachers, women, retirees, students, oppressed nations, families of the bereaved, and others who have long been pursued through various means and are being executed." The signatories expressed concern over the situation of Sharifeh Mohammadi and other accused of rebellion, emphasizing that Ms. Mohammadi, Pakhshan Azizi, and others "have committed no crime that would require them to pay such heavy and inhumane penalties." The issuance of death sentences for Sharifeh Mohammadi and Pakhshan Azizi has led to widespread criticism from Iranian human rights activists and organizations as well as the global community. The wave of executions, arrests, and gross human rights violations in Iran continues; condemnation of the world. A visit to the grave of Mohsen Shekari, a young man executed during the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests. A gathering of grieving mothers against the death sentences of Sharifeh Mohammadi and Pakhshan Azizi. The Human Rights Campaign in Iran: The global community must take a stand against the issuance of death sentences for political prisoners in Iran. Vida Rabani's letter from Evin: The gap between arrest and the delivery of the accused to the judiciary can be filled with any violence. Political prisoners in Qazalhessar emphasize the continuation of "No to Executions Tuesdays"; 8 female prisoners in Rasht have joined the hunger strike. The judiciary of the Islamic Republic has accused three protesting citizens in Boukan of "corruption on earth" and "waging war against God." The Revolutionary Court prevented Pakhshan Azizi, the political prisoner sentenced to death, from meeting with her lawyers. The second session of the trial for 8 accused of "rebellion"; the Iran Human Rights Organization: The international community must respond to Pakhshan Azizi's death sentence. Reactions to the execution of Kamran Sheikhe: "Extrajudicial" and "illegal murder"; the Islamic Republic must be held accountable. Two labor unions in Spain and France have joined the international campaign against the death sentence of Sharifeh Mohammadi.