Kurdish woman activist Pakhshan Azizi faces imminent execution after the Iranian Supreme Court upheld her death sentence on 8 January, despite procedural flaws and evidence of her peaceful humanitarian work. The decision has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups and political organisations, who have described it as political and called for it to be overturned.
The Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) has condemned the ratification of Azizi’s death sentence, calling it a politically motivated decision and urging protests against Iran’s targeting of women and Kurdish activists, including fellow prisoner Warisheh Moradi. The PJAK linked the sentence to the regime’s broader “Iron Fist” policy, which they argue is a reaction to its political isolation and foreign policy failures, which have left Iran in a weakened position.
In its statement, the PJAK stressed that such decisions would only intensify resistance from women and minority groups in Iran. The group emphasised that women are central to the values of society, and any attack on them undermines the dignity of the people. The PJAK also called on international organisations to put pressure on Iran to abolish the death penalty, and urged continued popular resistance.
The Centre for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) has warned of Azizi’s potential imminent execution, noting that it would mark the first execution of a woman political prisoner in Iran in 14 years. The CHRI has described the case as a significant escalation in Iran’s use of the death penalty against political opponents, highlighting the regime’s ongoing violation of human rights.
In addition, 68 human and women’s rights organisations from Iran and Iranian Kurdistan (Rojhilat) have signed a joint petition calling for Azizi’s death sentence to be overturned. “Pakhshan Azizi has devoted her life to defending women’s rights and advocating for social equality. Her execution would represent a grave injustice to human rights,” they said.
