Women detainees at Tehran’s Evin prison protested against the Iranian Revolutionary Court’s death sentence for Kurdish women’s rights activist Warisheh Moradi, Roj News reported on Tuesday. The prisoners chanted “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” (“Women, Life, Freedom”) and “Death to the Iranian regime” in defiance of Moradi’s sentencing, issued for “armed rebellion” (baghi) without her presence or legal defence, according to her supporters.
Moradi, held in solitary confinement since her detention in August 2023, has reportedly faced intense pressure for a forced confession. Her case has drawn condemnation from women’s organisations worldwide. The Women’s Union of South Kurdistan issued a statement of solidarity, asserting, “Moradi became our voice; we must now become hers,” while calling for a united front against the Iranian state’s actions.
Known for leading protests against Iran’s oppressive policies, Moradi began a 20-day hunger strike in October, protesting the indiscriminate use of the death penalty and harsh prison conditions. The strike action saw participation from detainees in 24 prisons across Iran, as well as women’s rights activists in Europe, who highlighted Moradi’s plight as emblematic of broader issues of judicial and social injustice in Iran.
The Women’s Union of South Kurdistan condemned the death sentence as an “attempt to silence the freedom struggle”, urging human rights organisations and democratic institutions to act swiftly. “The [Iranian] regime may resort to torture and executions, but it cannot silence our calls for justice,” the statement read, appealing for global support to halt Moradi’s execution.
