UN Human Rights Committee Expresses Concern Over Death Sentence for Varisheh Moradi

The United Nations Human Rights Committee regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran expressed concern on Wednesday, November 23, about the issuance of death sentences against women civil activists, including Varisheh Moradi, a political prisoner, on charges of rebellion. In the statement from this international committee, it was noted that Varisheh Moradi is the third woman to be sentenced to death due to activism, following the death sentences for Pakhshan Azizi, a civil activist, and Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist. The UN Human Rights Committee has called on the Iranian government to halt the issuance and execution of death sentences and to abolish this punishment entirely. Additionally, the Iran Human Rights Campaign stated in a statement on Wednesday that the death sentence for Varisheh Moradi issued on November 20 is "a clear example of the Islamic Republic's use of the brutal death penalty as a tool to suppress and intimidate protesters and political opponents, especially women and ethnic minorities." The organization pointed out that Ms. Moradi was subjected to various pressures and torture to obtain "forced confessions" during her detention and was deprived of her "right to defense," with multiple principles of fair trial being violated in her case. Varisheh Moradi was arrested on July 31, 2023, in the suburbs of Sanandaj and transferred to the women's section of Evin Prison on December 26 of the same year after the interrogation stages were completed at the Ministry of Intelligence detention center known as Ward 209. The first court session to address the charges against this political prisoner was held on June 17 of this year in Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Salavati, where she was accused of membership in an opposition group to the Islamic Republic called "Kojar" and charged with rebellion. The Iran Human Rights Campaign stated in its announcement: "During the proceedings of Varisheh Moradi's case, although the initial indictment referred to Article 288 of the Islamic Penal Code, which has a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, Judge Abolqasem Salavati, in a completely illegal process and after receiving the final defense, issued the death sentence for this political prisoner based on Article 287 and the charge of rebellion." The statement emphasized: "This behavior of the Islamic Republic's judiciary shows that the issuance of heavy judicial sentences is used as a tool for the compounded and multilayered suppression of women and Kurdish activists." Hadi Ghaemi, the executive director of the Iran Human Rights Campaign, firmly condemned the "campaign of terror" through the issuance and execution of death sentences, emphasizing: "The international community must clearly and publicly support the people of Iran and take a decisive stance against this blatant government violence." Hadi Ghaemi stated: "The widespread and illegal use of the death penalty by the Iranian government is, in its essence, a campaign of terror aimed at suppressing popular protests." He said: "The Iranian authorities believe that if they kill a group of people, they can silence the voice of political-social protests in the country. However, the people of Iran courageously continue their protests against the death sentences, and the international community must firmly and openly stand with them and take a stance against this government massacre." The Iran Human Rights Campaign called on the UN, governments, and human rights organizations worldwide to demand that Iranian officials immediately stop all executions and abolish the issuance and execution of the death penalty. The UN Human Rights Committee: Sharifeh Mohammadi Remains at Risk of Death Penalty The UN Human Rights Committee, in its statement on Wednesday, referred to the retrial of Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist, noting that although her death sentence has been revoked, she still remains at risk of the death penalty. Additionally, Amir Raeisian, Sharifeh Mohammadi's lawyer, reported on October 13 that the death sentence of this labor activist imprisoned in Lakan Prison in Rasht was violated in the Supreme Court. The UN Human Rights Committee added that Sharifeh Mohammadi was sentenced to death in a court that was held with serious violations and lack of adherence to due process. Meanwhile, the campaign to defend Sharifeh Mohammadi stated in a statement on Wednesday that the "worrying and strange" occurrence is that her trial is taking place in a branch where the judge is the son of Judge Ahmad Darvish-Goftar, who issued the death sentence for this labor activist. According to this statement, Ahmad Darvish-Goftar, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Rasht and the head of Branch 1 of this court, "had the authority to assign the case to his son, which raises serious doubts about the impartiality of the court and raises many concerns." The statement emphasized that "the selection of a judge from the same branch indicates deliberate bias and unfairness in this trial." Sharifeh Mohammadi was arrested last December and on July 5 of this year was sentenced to death by the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Rasht on charges of "rebellion." This sentence was issued based on the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence's accusation of Sharifeh Mohammadi's membership in "Komala," which has been strongly denied by Ms. Mohammadi, her husband Sirous Fathi, and the Komala Party. The issuance of the death sentence has led to widespread global protests, with labor unions and syndicates from various countries calling for its cancellation and the immediate release of Ms. Mohammadi.