Experts appointed by the Human Rights Council said, “The charges against Mr. Pakshan Azizi do not meet the criteria for the most serious crimes required by international law for the death penalty.” “Her death sentence constitutes a gross violation of international human rights law.”
solitary confinement
Azizi was arrested by Iranian intelligence in Tehran on August 4, 2023, and held in solitary confinement in the notorious Evin Prison for five months.
On July 23, 2024, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced her to death on charges of “armed rebellion against the state” and “member of a rebel group,” and in addition, she was sentenced to prison on suspicion of being a member of the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK). Sentenced to four years. .
The Supreme Court upheld the death sentence last week.
“MS. Azizi’s arrest and sentence appear to be related solely to her legitimate work as a social worker, which includes assisting refugees in Iraq and Syria,” the independent expert noted.
According to the report, Azizi was subjected to severe mental and physical torture in solitary confinement to extract a confession. She was also denied access to family visits and legal representation of her choice.
family is detained
Experts said several of Azizi’s family members had been temporarily detained and were facing national security charges, possibly in an attempt to coerce her into confessing.
“The use of torture to extract confessions and the denial of the right to a fair trial make Mr. Azizi’s death sentence inherently arbitrary,” the experts said.
Experts emphasized that the number of executions in Iran will exceed 900 in 2024, and the number of women sentenced to death is also increasing.
They called on Iran to halt executions that violate international law and fundamental human rights.
Ending the targeting of Kurdish women activists
“We are deeply concerned that Kurdish women activists are being specifically targeted with politically motivated charges,” they said.
“The prosecution of Ms. Azizi reflects the growing persecution faced by minority women activists in Iran and the continued intent to punish and silence them by creating a climate of fear. There is.”
Experts called on Iranian authorities to revoke Azizi’s death sentence, investigate allegations of torture and denial of fair trial rights, and stop harassing and targeting women activists in the country.
The Special Rapporteur and working groups that report and monitor allegations of rights violations are not United Nations staff and are independent of any government or organization. They serve in an individual capacity and do not receive a salary.
