13 January 2025 :

January 11, 2025 - IRAN. Pakhshan Azizi is one step away from execution
Hengaw Organization for Human Rights Statement Condemning the Death Sentence of Pakhshan Azizi
Hengaw strongly condemns the Iranian Supreme Court’s upholding of the death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi, a Kurdish political prisoner, women's rights activist, and social worker. This ruling exemplifies the mockery of judicial processes and the violation of international standards of fair trial, including principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Articles 10 and 11) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Articles 6 and 14).  
Hengaw confirms that Pakhshan Azizi’s death sentence has been forwarded to the enforcement unit. This step not only signals the Islamic Republic of Iran’s intent to commit another state-sanctioned killing but also serves as a grave warning of the imminent risk of carrying out this shameful sentence.  

Pakhshan Azizi was sentenced to death following a trial devoid of fair trial principles, on charges of "armed rebellion." However, the court ruling itself alleges her activities as a "military unit commander" were not conducted within Iran or even its neighboring country, Iraq, but in Syria, without providing any evidence. Furthermore, the ruling ambiguously links her activities as a "women’s studies and gender studies instructor" to her alleged leadership of a military group—a clear misrepresentation unrelated to armed activities. Another section of the ruling cites her connections with families seeking justice for victims of the 2022 protests and her encouragement of their pursuit of justice as grounds for her conviction. This alone demonstrates the farcical nature of the Iranian judiciary, where calls for justice for civilian victims of extrajudicial killings are met with death sentences.  
Most of Pakhshan Azizi's activities in Syria involved supporting survivors of ISIS atrocities and aiding vulnerable populations through organizations such as the "Kurdish Red Crescent Society" and the "Shams Development and Rehabilitation Organization," both of which operated with official permits. Certificates of her work with these organizations were presented in court, underscoring her deep commitment to peace and humanitarian principles.  
The forwarding of Pakhshan Azizi’s death sentence to the enforcement unit, alongside a similar ruling for Varisheh Moradi, reflects a concerted effort to normalize the execution of female political prisoners, particularly Kurdish women. This act is reminiscent of the 2010 execution of Shirin Alam-Houli and a return to the barbarity of the 1980s, posing a serious threat to other female prisoners.  
Violation of the Right to Life. The referral of this sentence to the enforcement unit blatantly violates Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a party. This article obligates states to refrain from imposing the death penalty in discriminatory processes or those violating fair trial standards.  
Unfair Trial. The issuance of Pakhshan Azizi's death sentence was riddled with extensive violations that fundamentally undermine any claim of judicial due process:  
- Interference of security agencies in judicial proceedings;  
- Lack of impartial review of evidence;  
- Convictions based on baseless allegations and insufficient evidence, are only few among the long list of violation.
This death sentence epitomizes the systemic oppression of ethnic/national minorities and women in the Islamic Republic of Iran, highlighting entrenched discrimination within the country’s judicial system.  
Hengaw’s call to action to the United Nations, Governments, and Human Rights Organizations

1. We urge the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran to prioritize this case as a matter of utmost urgency.
2. We call on the UN Fact-Finding Mission to expedite documentation of this case as part of its investigation into the Islamic Republic’s systematic repression.
3. We ask governments to impose targeted sanctions on judicial and security officials responsible for Pakhshan Azizi’s case.
4. Diplomatic and international pressure must be exerted on the Islamic Republic to halt this execution immediately and ensure her case is re-examined in compliance with fair trial standards.According to Hengaw, since the start of 2024, the Islamic Republic of Iran has executed at least 901 individuals. This statistic illustrates the systematic use of executions as a tool to instill fear in society and suppress dissent.  

Hengaw warns that Pakhshan Azizi’s life is in grave danger, and her imminent execution could signal a resurgence of the execution of female political prisoners in Iran. We call on the global community to recognize the urgency of this situation and utilize all available tools to halt this sentence.  
At the same time, we invite the Iranian people and human rights activists to raise their voices against this injustice and employ all peaceful means to support Pakhshan Azizi and other political prisoners at risk of execution. Civil society's solidarity and resistance play a key role in preventing the recurrence of such human tragedies. The time to act is now.

https://hengaw.net/en/news/1403-10-article-101