BAHARIN LEHIB

Afghanistan- Afghan and Iranian people have been oppressed by the government for years. The Iranian regime has used arrest, torture, execution, death penalty and enforced disappearance to suppress and silence the opposition.

Despite all the oppressive methods, the revolutionary women of Iran and Rojhelat Kurdistan never give in resisting. Like the freedom fighters of Afghanistan, they struggle to build a “better future”, raising the flag of resistance against oppression.

In recent months, the Iranian regime has issued a flurry of new death sentences, arresting many human rights defenders. Kurdish journalist Pakhshan Azizi is one of the women, who have been sentenced to death in Iran. She was sentenced to death by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court on charges of “armed rebellion against the state” on July 23, 2024. On January 8, 2025, the Iranian Supreme Court upheld the death sentence handed down to Pakhshan Azizi. This decision sparked anger and protests all over the world; human rights defenders have been demanding the Iranian authorities to revoke the death sentence against her and all political prisoners in the country.

‘The death sentence handed down to Pakhshan reminds me of the days I spent in prison’

In an interview with NuJINHA, Vasima Soroush, an activist in Afghanistan’s Takhar Province, condemned the Iranian Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the death sentence against Pakhshan Azizi. “The death sentence handed down to Pakhshan reminds me of the days I spent in a Taliban’s prison. The suffering of women at the hands of dictators will never be forgotten.”

‘They do not know that women will rise from the ashes’

Those who are enemies of freedom all over the world are afraid of women, Vasima Soroush stressed, adding: “The enemies of freedom are afraid of women everywhere, including Kabul and Tehran. They try to silence women because they are afraid of women's awareness, courage and resistance. The Taliban and the enemies of freedom in Iran use all kinds of methods to oppress women. However, they do not know that women will rise from the ashes.”

‘No dictator can last forever’

Vasima Soroush said that the fascist governments in Iran and Afghanistan would be held accountable one day. “The day is close. The women humiliated, tortured and executed by you will one day topple your regimes. History proves that no dictator can last forever. Therefore, you must be ready for a bitter fall.”