Petition for the Revocation of Death Sentences and a Fair Retrial for Verisheh Moradi and Pakhshan Azizi
203
Signatures
500
Goal
To:
Head of the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran
November 30, 2024
Court or Injustice?
This is about women’s rights—enough of unjust rulings, deceit, and hypocrisy!
Verisheh Moradi and Pakhshan Azizi, two women from Sanandaj and Mahabad, have been sentenced to death on unproven charges of “Baghi” (armed rebellion).*
The Islamic Republic has once again resorted to accusations of “Baghi,” condemning women and youth to death for nothing more than showing solidarity with the working class, supporting women and children oppressed by patriarchy, and resisting ISIS!
Pakhshan and Verisheh’s defense statements evoke deep pain in the heart of any free-thinking individual—a pain that reveals their inability to claim their rights, an inability rooted in the lack of gender equality laws.
The issuance of death sentences for these two Kurdish women serves as a stark reminder to the defenders of global capitalism and those who perpetrate violence against women and children that the repression of movements for equality and freedom is a top priority, and they will stop at nothing to silence women. These rulings reflect only a fraction of the judiciary’s hostility toward women and the activists fighting for their rights.
Based on the evidence presented below, the Mothers of Peace Council in Eastern Kurdistan** strongly condemns the issuance of these unjust death sentences and demands their immediate revocation and a fair retrial.
Note: The death sentences for these women are incredibly unjust for the following reasons:
1. Violation of the Presumption of Innocence: The charges of “Baghi” against Verisheh Moradi and Pakhshan Azizi were fabricated by interrogators, and there is no evidence to support the accusation of “Baghi,” which means terrorizing people and disrupting societal peace. These women were neither armed nor resisting arrest at the time of arrest.
2. Lack of Fair Legal Representation: Throughout various stages of investigation and interrogation, the defendants were deprived of the right to choose their own lawyers. According to Article 48 of the Criminal Procedure Code, lawyers and even the defendants were denied access to case files and the ability to provide a defense, seriously undermining their legal right to a fair defense.
3. Forced Confessions: The defendants were held in harsh solitary confinement for months under severe physical and psychological torture in order to extract forced confessions. Such acts clearly violate all human rights standards and are entirely unacceptable.
4. Distortion of Facts: These women have spent years fighting against ISIS—an enemy of humanity that has killed or enslaved countless women and children. Before and after their anti-ISIS struggle, they were also active in advocating for women’s and children’s rights. Any attempt to distort these facts in their case is purely a fabrication of the investigators and has no legal basis.
5. Interference in Judicial Proceedings: Credible reports indicate a lack of judicial independence in these cases. Judge Salavati, who presided over the trial, lacks the qualifications necessary to adjudicate these cases.
Mothers of Peace in Eastern Kurdistan
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* The accusation of “Baghi” refers to opposing the legitimate Islamic leadership or system, often through armed rebellion. According to Article 287 of the Islamic Penal Code, a “Baghi” is someone who takes armed action against the Islamic Republic, and this offense is treated as a serious crime against national security.
** The Mothers of Peace Council in Eastern Kurdistan is a civil and advocacy organization focused on promoting peace, solidarity, and justice in the Kurdish region. It has been involved in initiatives such as supporting hunger strikes (e.g., Leyla Güven’s protest) and addressing political tensions, including advocating to prevent conflicts between Kurdish political groups.
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Province Number of signatures Alborz 1 Ardabil 0 Bushehr 0 Chahar Mahaal and Bakhtiari 0 East Azerbaijan 2 Fars 1 Gilan 1 Golestan 0 Hamadan 0 Hormozgan 0 Ilam 0 Isfahan 0 Kerman 1 Kermanshah 1 Khuzestan 3 Kohgiluyehv And Boyer Ahmad 1 Kurdistan 6 Lorestan 0 Markazi 0 Mazandaran 0 North Khorasan 0 Qazvin 0 Qom 0 Razavi Khorasan 4 Semnan 0 Sistan and Baluchestan 0 South Khorasan 0 Tehran 8 West Azerbaijan 1 Yazd 1 Zanjan 0 This petition has received 203 signatures so far. Approximately 78% of signatures come from Iran. Approximately 22% of signatures come from outside of Iran. Learn how Daadkhast generates signature maps. -
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