UN Human Rights Committee Deems Iranian Government's Actions Against Sharifeh Mohammadi as 'Human Rights Violation'

The campaign defending Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist sentenced to death, announced on Thursday, August 16, that the UN Human Rights Committee regarding Iran, in its report for this month, referred to the 'repressions' against Ms. Mohammadi's situation and the 'unjust death sentence' issued against her as 'a manifestation of human rights violations' by the Iranian government. According to the campaign's statement, the committee's report mentions instances of human rights violations against this labor activist by the government, including 'suppression and detention due to the legal and inherent right to organize, pressure and torture to obtain forced confessions, lack of access to a fair trial, and ultimately, the issuance of a death sentence.' The campaign stated that it has been 'collecting and documenting numerous instances of human rights violations and registering them with the fact-finding committee, in collaboration with experts from this committee, to record, examine, and assess many details of human rights violations in Sharifeh's case.' The campaign emphasized that it will continue its efforts in this matter and, considering the submission of documents, evidence, and many precise and documented details to the fact-finding committee, in collaboration with experts from this committee, it will 'pursue the process of protesting the Iranian government and holding them accountable for human rights violations in Sharifeh Mohammadi's case.' Sharifeh Mohammadi was arrested in December of last year and on July 5 was sentenced to death by the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Rasht on charges of 'rebellion.' This sentence was issued based on accusations from the Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic regarding Ms. Mohammadi's alleged membership in 'Komala,' which has been vehemently denied by Ms. Mohammadi, her husband, Siros Fathi, and Komala. Additionally, the Coordination Committee to Help Establish Labor Organizations, of which Sharifeh Mohammadi was a member in the 1980s, has rejected the charges against her. Reports indicate that she has been tortured and that government agents have accused her of 'membership in the armed Komala group' 'without any evidence.' This organization has also denied this matter. Human rights, labor, and professional activists in Iran, as well as human rights organizations and labor unions worldwide, along with a number of Iranian activists, have condemned the death sentence for Ms. Mohammadi. Protests by retirees in Shush: 'Sharifeh Mohammadi must be freed.' Shirin Ebadi warns about the situation of Narges Mohammadi and other political prisoners: the government has drawn its sword. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern about executions in Iran. The Australian Council of Trade Unions stated that the death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi is a continuation of the repression of labor activists in Iran. A statement from 31 human rights organizations in support of Sharifeh Mohammadi: her activities have been peaceful and legal.