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The issuance and execution of death sentences continue unabated in Iran, encompassing not only those convicted of murder and drug-related offenses but also political prisoners. Just under a month since labor activist Sharifeh Mohammadi was sentenced to death, the recent execution of Kamran Sheikheh and the issuance of a death sentence for Kurdish civil activist and political prisoner Pakhshan Azizi have intensified concerns among human rights activists.
Kamran Sheikheh, a Sunni Kurd prisoner convicted in a controversial case involving membership in a Salafi group and the murder of an Imam in Mahabad, was executed on July 25 in Urmia Central Prison. Reports indicate that his body has yet to be handed over to his family. Sheikheh was the last defendant in a case where six others had already been executed.
In an opaque trial, the Tehran Revolutionary Court had sentenced Anwar Khazri, Ayub Karimi, Davood Abdullahi, Farhad Salimi, Qasim Abasteh, Kamran Sheikheh, and Khosro Basharat to death for the 2008 murder of Abdul Rahim Tina, the Imam of Khalaf al-Rashidin Mosque in Mahabad. The defendants were accused of both participating in the murder and for being members of a "Salafi group." They later denied these charges in letters and communications from prison, claiming that Ministry of Intelligence officials tortured them and extracted forced confessions.
The defendants described methods of torture, including hanging from the ceiling, beatings, mock executions, sleep deprivation, and psychological torture. Amnesty International reported that the trial was extremely unfair, marred by allegations of torture and mistreatment. The presiding judge even prevented the defense lawyer from speaking during the trial.
The defendants were arrested nearly 15 years ago and held for months at the Intelligence Office in Urmia, West Azerbaijan Province, notorious for reports of abuse and torture. The death sentence was first issued in 2015 by the lower court under Judge Moghiseh but was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2016. However, in 2018, Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court, under Judge Abolqasem Salavati, again sentenced them to death. Ultimately, in 2019, Branch 41 of the Supreme Court reaffirmed the death sentences.
In a concurrent development, Maziyar Tataie and Amir Raeesian, lawyers for Pakhshan Azizi, confirmed the issuance of a death sentence for the Kurdish civil activist and political prisoner. They plan to appeal the verdict, stating that the initial judgment is under preparation for appeal.
Azizi was sentenced to death for "rebellion or armed uprising against the government," with the charge specified as "membership in opposition groups." Raeesian denied any armed activities by Azizi, stating that there was no mention of military operations or clashes involving her in the verdict. Tataie questioned how Azizi, described as a women's studies instructor in the verdict, could be involved in armed activities.
The death sentence for Azizi sparked reactions, including a sit-in protest by female prisoners in Evin Prison. Golrokh Iraee, another political prisoner, voiced support on social media, calling for the abolition of Azizi's death sentence.
Azizi was arrested on August 4 of last year and transferred to Evin Prison's women's ward after spending time in detention. According to Hengaw, she was charged in February and her trial took place on May 29. The verdict was issued on Tuesday and conveyed to her lawyers.
Human rights organizations reported that Azizi had been subjected to torture and pressured to issue a forced confession. She had previously been arrested in 2009 during a student protest against the execution of political prisoners in Kurdistan and released on bail after four months.
Recent months have seen a rise in the execution of prisoners in Iran. Amnesty International reported this increase in executions, noting that Iran accounted for most of the world’s “recorded executions” - a figure that does not include some states. The organization noted that the Iranian government has increased the use of the death penalty to instill fear and tighten its grip on power following the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement in September 2022. Last year, Iran recorded 853 executions, a nearly 50% increase from the previous year, placing it second only to China in the number of executions carried out.
This ongoing use of the death penalty continues to draw condemnation from human rights organizations worldwide, who call for Iran to cease these practices and address the deep concerns that Iran’s judicial system is out of step with international human rights standards.
The National Iranian American Council (NIAC) strongly condemns the execution of Kamran Sheikheh and the death sentences for Sharifeh Mohammadi and Pakhshan Azizi. NIAC stands firmly against the use of the death penalty and urges the Islamic Republic of Iran to cease using executions as a tool for repression, to release all prisoners of conscience and to move in line with international human rights law.
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