Two Labor Unions in Spain and France Join International Campaign Against the Death Sentence of Sharifeh Mohammadi

Following the condemnation of the death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist imprisoned in Lakan prison in Rasht, the "Labor Commissions of Spain" and the "National Union of Self-Managed Trade Unions of France" announced that they are joining the international campaign protesting her death sentence. According to the website of the Labor Commissions of Spain, this union expressed its deep concern and fear for Sharifeh Mohammadi's life on Tuesday, August 23. The Labor Commissions of Spain urged the Islamic Republic's embassy in Madrid to inform the authorities of the necessity to revoke the death sentence of this Iranian labor movement activist. In this context, Cristina Fatiaben Lacorte, the international secretary of cooperation and migration of this commission, wrote in a letter to the Islamic Republic's ambassador in Madrid, referring to the arrest and torture of Sharifeh Mohammadi and the subsequent issuance of the death sentence for this labor activist behind closed doors in the Revolutionary Court of Rasht: "On the global stage, many of us, national and international unions, as well as Amnesty International, have expressed our complete opposition to this sentence and called for its immediate cancellation." The National Union of Self-Managed Trade Unions of France also stated in a statement that there is significant concern regarding Sharifeh Mohammadi's fate, emphasizing that alongside many civil society organizations, they demand the cancellation of her conviction and her immediate release, as well as the end of the proceedings against her. The statement from the National Union of Self-Managed Trade Unions of France reads: "We continue to urge the Iranian government to stop the use of torture and the death penalty and to release all political prisoners." In recent weeks, labor unions and syndicates in several countries around the world, including Italy, France, Denmark, Australia, and Canada, have condemned the death sentence against Sharifeh Mohammadi and called for her release and that of other imprisoned activists. Additionally, several human rights organizations have criticized this ruling of the Islamic Republic's judiciary. Simultaneously, participants in protests in several cities in Iran and abroad have condemned the death sentence against Ms. Mohammadi and demanded her unconditional freedom. Sharifeh Mohammadi, who was a member of the "Coordination Committee for Help to Establish Labor Organizations" over a decade ago, was arrested last December, and the Revolutionary Court of Rasht sentenced her to death on July 5 on charges of "baghi" (rebellion). This sentence was issued based on the Islamic Republic's Ministry of Intelligence's accusation of her membership in "Komala," which has been strongly denied by Sharifeh Mohammadi herself, her husband Sirous Fathi, and the Komala group. The Coordination Committee for Help to Establish Labor Organizations, of which Sharifeh Mohammadi was a member in the 1980s, has 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. This organization has also denied this claim. Furthermore, the "Campaign to Defend Sharifeh Mohammadi" announced on Tuesday, August 23, referring to reports about the torture of this imprisoned labor activist, that the head of Lakan prison in Rasht has collaborated with agents of the Islamic Republic's Ministry of Intelligence in her interrogation and abuse, warning that the life and mental security of this labor activist sentenced to death is in "danger." Earlier, this campaign reported on Sunday, July 22, citing reliable sources, that a "professional torture and interrogation team" had been dispatched to Lakan prison in Rasht to force this political prisoner sentenced to death to "confess against herself."