Three Canadian Lawmakers Take Political Sponsorship of Three Female Political Prisoners

The campaign to defend Sharifeh Mohammadi announced on Friday, March 1, that two members of Parliament and one Canadian senator have taken political sponsorship of Sharifeh Mohammadi, Pakhshan Azizi, and Varisheh Moradi, three female political prisoners sentenced to death in Iran. According to the report, at a press conference organized by the "Iranian Women’s Association of Montreal" and a group of Iranian feminists in Canada in collaboration with Amnesty International, Ruba Ghazal, a member of Parliament from the Mercier district, Alexandre Boulerice, a member of Parliament from Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, and Julie Miville-Dechêne, a Canadian senator, have taken political sponsorship of these three political prisoners. The campaign to defend Sharifeh Mohammadi noted that this action aims to increase international pressure to halt the execution orders and secure the immediate release of these prisoners. The organizers of the meeting stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran executed at least 975 death sentences last year, which represents a 17% increase compared to the previous year. They emphasized the importance of media in informing and mobilizing public opinion and called for immediate action to abolish the death penalty and free all political prisoners in Iran. The organizers also stressed the vital role of media in reflecting repression and pressuring international institutions to stop the crimes of the Iranian government. They stated, "History has shown that the press and international pressure can save lives." The campaign to defend Sharifeh Mohammadi emphasized that it believes the only fair sentence for this labor activist sentenced to death is her unconditional freedom, adding that Sharifeh Mohammadi is an independent labor activist with no ties to political groups, either inside or outside the country. Lawyers for Sharifeh Mohammadi reported on February 14 that a new death sentence had been issued against this labor activist during the retrial phase. This death sentence had previously been overturned by the Supreme Court and her case had been referred to a parallel branch. The page of the "Campaign to Defend Sharifeh Mohammadi," managed by members of Sharifeh Mohammadi's family, stated: "The baseless accusation against Sharifeh is membership in Komala through membership in the Coordination Committee, while this committee is an independent labor organization and has no political affiliations." The campaign to defend Sharifeh Mohammadi reported on December 20 that a hearing session for her case had been held in the second branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Rasht, stating that despite the lawyers' request for Ms. Mohammadi to attend the court, part of the session was held online and remotely, and she answered several questions from the judges. Sharifeh Mohammadi, 45 years old, from Miyaneh in East Azerbaijan and residing in Rasht, was arrested on December 5, 2023, by agents of the Islamic Republic's Ministry of Intelligence in Rasht and reportedly suffered psychological and physical torture during her detention in Rasht and Sanandaj. On July 5 of this year, in a 10-minute trial, she was sentenced to death by the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Rasht on charges of "Baghi" (rebellion) through membership in one of the opposition groups. The accusation has been denied by her, her husband, her family, and also by the Komala Party. Members of the Coordination Committee for the Help of Establishing Labor Organizations also rejected the accusation of connection with this party. Pakhshan Azizi was also sentenced to death and four years in prison on August 24 of this year by Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Iman Afshari, on charges of "Baghi, through membership in opposition groups." She was arrested on August 4 of last year along with her father, sister, and sister's husband in Tehran. Ms. Azizi was transferred to the women's ward of this prison after about four months in solitary confinement at the Ministry of Intelligence detention center (Ward 209 of Evin Prison). According to the Iran Human Rights Organization website, security officials accused her of membership in groups that engage in armed activities against the Islamic Republic, but according to Pakhshan Azizi's lawyer, her humanitarian activities "in northern Syria in the Shangal refugee camp and other refugee camps from the ISIS war were peaceful activities that had no political dimension and were centered around humanitarian aid against ISIS attacks." Varisheh Moradi was sentenced to death on November 11 of this year by Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran on charges of "Baghi" (armed uprising against the government). She was arrested on July 31 of last year in the suburbs of Sanandaj and on December 25 of the same year, after the completion of the interrogation stages, was transferred from the Ministry of Intelligence detention center known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison to the women's ward of this prison. This political prisoner previously revealed in an open letter from prison that during her detention, she was subjected to physical and psychological torture, threats of execution, and gender-based violence. The Iran Human Rights Campaign: 3 female political prisoners are at serious risk of execution. Sharifeh Mohammadi's lawyer: The judiciary did not respond to our legal objections. Symbolically burning a noose at a civil activists' protest in front of Evin. Protests by dozens of lawyers against the death sentences of three female political prisoners: It is a violation of human rights.