A campaign against the death sentences of Kurdish journalist Pakhshan Azizi and activist Sharifeh Mohammadi in Iran has garnered 36,000 signatures, reflecting widespread international outrage. The campaign, launched by the Women’s Press Union (YRJ) in North and East Syria, aims to halt the executions and has drawn significant support from across the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
The YRJ announced the results of the campaign on 26 August, noting that it was initially launched on 12 August and was extended due to overwhelming support from various organisations and individuals. The campaign officially concluded on 26 August, having run for 14 days.
“The campaign, which was planned to end on 19 August, was extended due to requests from numerous organisations and women’s rights defenders,” the YRJ stated.
The signatures were collected from a wide range of supporters, including journalists, civil society and women’s organisations, legal associations, politicians, intellectuals, activists, and independent figures from North and East Syria, the four parts of Kurdistan, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and even Europe. “A total of 36,398 signatures were gathered,” the YRJ reported, with plans to submit them to international bodies such as the International Federation of Journalists, Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders.
The campaign comes amid increasing criticism of Iran’s human rights record, particularly its treatment of journalists and activists. Both Pakhshan Azizi and Sharifeh Mohammadi were sentenced to death by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Courts on charges of ‘Baghi’ (armed insurgency), a common charge used against those who oppose the regime.
The signatures will be sent to international organisations in an effort to increase pressure on the Iranian government to overturn the death sentences and end its crackdown on dissent.
