Independent United Nations human rights experts have expressed grave concern over the Iranian Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the death sentence of Kurdish activist Pakhshan Azizi. The experts called on the Iranian authorities to immediately revoke the sentence, investigate allegations of torture during detention and ensure a fair trial. They also stressed the need to end the harassment of women activists and protect the fundamental rights of all individuals, regardless of their political beliefs or ethnicity.
“The use of torture to extract confessions and the denial of fair trial rights render the death sentence against Ms. Azizi arbitrary in nature,” the Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups appointed by the UN’s Human Rights Council warned. “Her arrest and sentencing appear to be directly related to her legitimate work as a social worker, particularly her support for refugees in Iraq and Syria.”
“The charges against Ms. Pakhshan Azizi do not meet the threshold of ‘most serious crimes’ required by international law for the death penalty,” the experts explained. “Her death sentence constitutes a serious violation of international human rights law.”
Azizi, a prominent defender of refugees, was arrested by Iranian intelligence in Tehran on 4 August 2023 and held in solitary confinement for five months before being sentenced to death for alleged armed rebellion against the state and membership of opposition groups. She was also given a four-year prison sentence for alleged ties to the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK). Reports have raised concerns about severe torture she endured while in solitary confinement at Evin Prison, as well as the denial of family visits and legal representation.
“We are deeply concerned by the specific targeting of Kurdish women activists with politically motivated charges,” the experts added. “This prosecution reflects the heightened persecution of minority women activists in Iran and the ongoing efforts to silence them by creating a climate of fear.”
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Her case has sparked widespread international attention, with protests in cities such as Brussels and South Africa, alongside petitions demanding her release and the overturning of her death sentence. Several human rights organisations, including a coalition of 26 groups, have condemned the lack of evidence supporting her charges and criticised the unfair trial process.
Pakhshan Azizi has long been an advocate for the protection of Kurdish and Iranian women’s rights, continuing to promote the Kurdish feminist slogan “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi” (Woman, Life, Freedom) as a revolutionary discourse, even from behind bars. This has further solidified her status as a symbol of resistance against oppressive forces in Iran.
The UN experts urged Iran to cease its use of the death penalty, calling the practice a violation of international human rights law, and to align its judicial practices with global human rights standards. The case highlights the broader persecution faced by women in Iran, particularly those who dare to challenge the status quo.
