Varisheh Moradi, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison, has been sentenced to death by Judge Abolghasem Salavati on charges of “rebellion” (in the Iranian regime’s judicial terminology, this refers to someone who has risen against the Islamic ruler). She was arrested on August 1, 2023, near Sanandaj after being severely beaten, and after five months of interrogation, she was transferred to Evin Prison.
The death sentence issued against this political prisoner was communicated to her lawyers on Sunday, November 10. Varisheh Moradi’s first trial session was held on June 16 in Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran on charges of “rebellion” and “membership in an opposition group against the regime.” Her second trial was repeatedly canceled by Judge Salavati for various reasons but eventually took place on October 5.
On that same day, Hrana News Agency reported that Judge Salavati, in what has been assessed as a violation of defendants’ rights, did not allow any of Moradi’s lawyers to defend their client.
In August, Moradi wrote her defense statement along with a letter to the public, asking people to judge her and her activities in the light of social justice.
In part of this letter, she stated, “ISIS beheads us, and the Iranian regime hangs us.” She went on to say, “No political or legal knowledge can resolve this paradox. So let us stay awake.”
This political prisoner began a hunger strike on October 10 in protest against executions in Iran and in support of the “No to Execution” campaigns.
Sentencing of Female Political Prisoners
Since coming to power, the Iranian regime has consistently arrested, tortured, imprisoned, and executed civil and political activists critical of the government, including women.
Since the start of the widespread uprising of Iranians against the regime in September 2022, the regime has intensified its suppression of civil and political activists and protesters, a trend that continues.
Pakhshan Azizi, another Kurdish political prisoner and cellmate of Moradi, was sentenced to death on July 23 by Iman Afshari, head of Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, on charges of “rebellion” and was given an additional four-year prison sentence for “membership in a party opposed to the Iranian regime.”
Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist held in Lakan Prison in Rasht, was also sentenced to death on July 4 by the Revolutionary Court of that city for “membership in the Coordinating Committee to Help Form Labor Unions” and the charge of “rebellion.”
Another political prisoner, Maryam Akbari Monfared, after serving 15 years without furlough, was transferred to Tehran to serve an additional two-year sentence for “disturbing public opinion.” She was already incarcerated when this sentence was issued, a tactic the Iranian regime uses to increase pressure on political prisoners.
