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IRAN - Death Sentence upheld for Pakhshan Azizi
January 8, 2025: January 8, 2025 - IRAN. The Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic of Iran has upheld the execution sentence for Pakhshan Azizi, a Kurdish political prisoner held in Evin Prison. Iran Human Rights regards the issuance and confirmation of this sentence as part of the Islamic Republic's strategy to instill fear following the nationwide "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests. Pointing to an unprecedented rise in executions, particularly of women, the organization has called on the international community to take action to stop the executions and demand the immediate cancellation of Pakhshan Azizi's sentence.
The Islamic Republic has executed at least 31 women in 2024, the highest annual number since IHRNGO’s first report in 2008.
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, Director of the Iran Human Rights, stated: "This unlawful sentence, issued to instill societal fear to prevent new protests must be condemned by the international community in the strongest terms. Only by raising the political cost can such atrocities be prevented."
Amir Raeisiian, Pakhshan Azizi’s lawyer, confirmed in an interview with the newspaper Shargh that her death sentence was upheld by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court. Azizi was sentenced to death and four years in prison by Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, presided over by Iman Afshari, on charges of "rebellion through membership in opposition groups."
The lawyer emphasized that numerous flaws in the case—such as investigative deficiencies and the lack of sufficient evidence linking Pakhshan Azizi to the charges—had been overlooked.
Pakhshan Azizi, a native of Mahabad, was arrested in Tehran on August 4, 2023, along with her father Aziz Azizi, her sister Pershang Azizi, and her sister's husband Hossein Abbasi. After spending around four months in solitary confinement at the Intelligence Ministry's detention center (Ward 209 of Evin Prison), she was transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison. Security officials accused her of belonging to groups engaged in armed activities against the Islamic Republic. However, her lawyer stated that her work as a humanitarian in northern Syria—particularly in refugee camps in Sinjar and other camps for those displaced by ISIS—was peaceful and entirely focused on relief efforts, devoid of any political motives.
Raeisiian added: "Accusing Pakhshan Azizi of criminal actions such as belonging to an insurgent group not only lacks any legal or evidentiary basis in her case, but even if she had belonged to such a group, she was arrested unarmed, had never used weapons, and even when she was in the Kurdish region of Syria, she was at risk of ISIS attacks. She had no conflict with Iranian forces in Syria, Iraq, or Iran, which demonstrates that this sentence contradicts the judicial policies claimed to be followed."
The lawyer has announced plans to request an appeal immediately. However, Pakhshan Azizi’s life is in grave danger.
Pakhshan Azizi had previously been arrested in 2009 due to her political activities and was released after four months on bail. On her case see also HoC 23/07/2024, 19/08/2024, 09/09/2024, 27/10/2024, 11/11/2024, 12/11/2024, 21/11/2024, 05/12/2024.
https://iranhr.net/en/articles/7269/
https://www.en-hrana.org/death-sentence-for-pakhshan-azizi-upheld-by-supreme-court/
https://hengaw.net/en/news/1403-10-article-85 (Source: IHR)
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