Opposition to death sentences for female socio-political activists in Iran is rapidly growing across Kurdistan, Iran, and globally. Critics argue that these sentences lack legal legitimacy and view them as an affront to women’s identity and societal freedom.
In recent days, women, civil activists, journalists, and human rights defenders in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava), Europe, and Iran have continued their protests against the death sentences for two female activists, Pakhshan Azizi, and Sharifeh Mohammadi.
In this context, the general command of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), published a statement. This statement referred to the women’s revolution in Rojava and the efforts of the patriarchal system throughout history to impose dominance over women’s identity. The YPJ stated that the sentences against Mohammadi and Azizi reveal that, even now, states seek to continue to dominate women through their ongoing policies. The YPJ reminded readers of two women from Iran/Iranian Kurdistan, Dersim Kirmaşan and Viyan, who joined the YPJ’s fight in Rojava. They concluded that Azizi and Mohammadi, inspired by the women’s revolution in Rojava, are part of the movement to build a free Iran, continuing their struggle even from within the prisons.
As part of the ‘No to Execution, Yes to Free Life’ campaign, the Martyr Women’s Council of Asia Yuksel convened a meeting in Duisburg, Germany, to protest the death sentences. A statement from a representative of the Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK) was read, condemning the death sentences imposed on these socio-political activists. The statement characterised these sentences as the Iranian government’s attempt to retaliate against the Jin, Jiyan, Azadî (Woman, Life, Freedom) uprising, suppress freedom, and exert pressure on Iranian society as a whole.
In southeast Turkey, the Mesopotamia Women Journalists Association (MKG) and the Tigris-Euphrates Journalists Association (DFG) held a joint meeting and issued a statement condemning the sentences. Roza Matina, representing MKG, strongly denounced the death sentence for Azizi, a dedicated women’s rights activist, social worker, and journalist, highlighting her refusal to capitulate to the oppressive Iranian state. Following the meeting, participants emphasised the urgent need to overturn the sentences and urged human rights organisations and international media to address the torture and wrongful sentencing of Azizi by the Iranian regime.
Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) also issued statements protesting the death sentences of these female activists. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of IHRNGO, said, “Azizi’s death sentence has no legal basis and was issued by the Islamic Republic’s non-independent judicial system at the behest of the security forces to suppress the civil movement. The international community must react to her sentence in the strongest terms.” Her lawyers have also formally contested the unjust issuance of the death sentence.
Pakhshan Azizi is the second female activist to receive the death penalty in the last month after workers’ rights activist Sharifeh Mohammadi was also sentenced to death in early July.
