Teachers' Union Council: Sharifeh Mohammadi's Death Sentence is to Suppress Activists

The Coordinating Council of Teachers' Trade Unions states that the issuance of a death sentence against Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist, is "to suppress trade union, civil, and political activists." In a statement on Friday, July 6, they called the charges against Ms. Mohammadi "baseless," stating: "The charges of baghi (rebellion), moharebeh (waging war against God), and ifsad fil-arz (corruption on earth) are unfounded accusations that the judiciary uses to instill fear and terror." The Coordinating Council of Teachers' Trade Unions also referred to 15 political prisoners who have faced the charge of "baghi" in recent months, calling for "collective solidarity" to stop the death sentence. Radio Farda reported two days ago that the Revolutionary Court of Rasht, presided over by Ahmad Darvishgottar, issued a death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi on the charge of "baghi" or "armed rebellion against the regime." In the laws of the Islamic Republic, the charge of "baghi" is defined as "armed uprising against the regime," and the usual punishment is death. The Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company also condemned the ruling against Ms. Mohammadi last Thursday, calling the charge of "baghi" against her "groundless." This syndicate stated that the intelligence agencies of the Islamic Republic have long gone beyond "human principles and foundations" in their "scenario-making" against labor activists, adding: "The regime must be held accountable for these barbaric death sentences." The first branch of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht cited "Ms. Mohammadi's membership in an independent labor organization" as part of the accusation. Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist, was sentenced to death in the Revolutionary Court of Rasht. Vida Mohammadi, Sharifeh Mohammadi's cousin, reported in an interview with Radio Farda about her mistreatment and torture during her two-month transfer to Sanandaj prison. She stated that prisoners in other cells have repeatedly seen Ms. Mohammadi being tortured. According to Ms. Mohammadi's cousin, the issuance of such a sentence after 10 years and the charge of "baghi" is "absurd and unfounded" and seems to be "targeted and vindictive." Following the rampant inflation rate in recent years and the significant gap between household income and expenses, various guilds and groups, including workers, teachers, and retirees, have engaged in widespread protests and strikes in recent years. These protest actions intensified amid the "Women, Life, Freedom" protests following the death of Mahsa Amini while in custody of the morality police, but were met with severe government repression.