Support from 16 Political Prisoners for Sharifeh Mohammadi, Labor Activist Sentenced to Death: The Government Wants to Silence Dissent

A number of political prisoners in the women’s ward of Evin Prison have expressed their support for Sharifeh Mohammadi, a civil activist who has been sentenced to death by the judiciary of the Islamic Republic. They stated that they "demand the cessation of the death sentence." According to a statement released on Tuesday, July 9, on the X account of the "Campaign to Defend Sharifeh Mohammadi," 16 female political prisoners in Evin emphasized: "We stand with all those who are threatened by the death penalty and demand the cessation of the death sentence." The signatories of this statement noted that "Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist, was sentenced to death after seven months of temporary detention, enduring torture and interrogation in various detention centers, in a worn-out scenario with baseless accusations." They stated: "This is not only Sharifeh's death sentence but the death sentence for all of us labor, political, civil, human rights activists, and women’s rights activists." These political prisoners also added: "We see this sentence as a potential danger and a prelude to issuing heavier sentences in the future." They criticized the "repressive policy" that the Islamic Republic has increasingly adopted in this death sentence, adding that the government aims to "silence the voice of dissent and demand that has been elevated to a significant level since the revolutionary uprising of 1401, and intimidate women who have stepped into the realm of rights advocacy with a louder voice than before, forcing them to retreat." The political prisoners also stated: "We, a group of female prisoners in Evin Prison, have heard the voice of the campaign to defend Sharifeh Mohammadi, which called on all awakened consciences to act for Sharifeh's freedom. We stand with Sharifeh and all those threatened by the death penalty and demand the cessation of the death sentence." This statement was signed by "Sarvnaz Ahmadi, Anisha Asadollahi, Hasti Amiri, Reyhaneh Ansarinezha, Golrokh Iraei, Sakineh Parvaneh, Nahid Taghavi, Nahid Khodajoo, Nasrin Khazari-Javadi, Vida Rabani, Mahbubeh Rezaei, Mahnaz Tarrah, Sepideh Ghalean, Narges Mohammadi, Varisheh Moradi, and Maryam Yahyavi." Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist imprisoned in Lakan Central Prison, was sentenced to death on charges of "Baghi" one day before the second round of government voting in the first branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Rasht. According to Article 287 of the Islamic Penal Code, a "Baghi" is someone who engages in armed struggle against the "foundations of the Islamic Republic." The issuance of the death sentence for this civil activist has faced widespread protests. Among them, a group of political prisoners across Iran went on hunger strike in protest against this sentence. Additionally, gatherings have been held in various cities around the world in protest against the death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi. Amnesty International has called on the authorities of the Islamic Republic to revoke Sharifeh Mohammadi's death sentence and free her. The Iran Human Rights Organization and the Human Rights Campaign in Iran have also condemned the issuance of the death sentence for this imprisoned labor activist in statements and called for international intervention regarding such sentences.