News Center – Iran is among the world’s most active enforcers of the death penalty, applying it widely in criminal cases. Human rights organizations and international bodies consider such rulings a blatant violation of fundamental rights, especially in the absence of fair and transparent trials.
Karimi, a resident of Rasht who previously served a two-year prison sentence and is currently serving her term, posted a video on Instagram responding to the reaffirmed death sentence against Mohammadi. She emphasized the urgent need to support her.
“She has done nothing to deserve this serious charge. The accusation of rebellion is a gross falsehood against someone who engaged in peaceful activities, as she was an active member of legal organizations,” Karimi said, criticizing some activists for remaining silent. “When we stay silent in the face of injustice and unfair rulings, everyone becomes vulnerable. It is not difficult for incompetent authorities to accuse any of us of war or rebellion.”
‘We must speak out’
Highlighting the danger activists face, Karimi added: “If we remain silent today, tomorrow each of us could be Sharifeh Mohammadi. For our own safety and to prevent Mohammadi’s execution, we must speak out.”
Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist and political prisoner, was sentenced to death in December 2023. She was arrested at her home by intelligence agents, transferred from Lakan Prison in Rasht to Sanandaj Prison, and later returned, enduring psychological and physical torture during her detention.
In October last year, Branch 39 of the Supreme Court overturned Mohammadi’s death sentence and referred her case to Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court in Rasht for retrial. A hearing was subsequently held regarding the charges, and in February her lawyer announced that the death sentence had been reinstated.
In August, Mohammadi’s lawyer stated that Branch 39 of the Supreme Court, which had previously overturned her sentence due to multiple objections, upheld the ruling this time despite the same unresolved concerns. “Even though none of the previous objections that led to the sentence’s cancellation were addressed, the Supreme Court upheld the sentence this time,” he said.