A United Nations Fact-Finding Mission has warned the Iranian government about the sharp increase in executions and called for their cessation.
The UN Fact-Finding Mission urged an immediate halt to executions and a temporary suspension of the use of the death penalty by the Iranian government.
The fact-finding mission has also called on the Iranian government to completely abolish the death penalty.
The Fact-Finding Mission, referencing the death sentence of “Varisheh Moradi” on charges of “armed rebellion against the state,” stated that the Iranian government uses executions to suppress female activists.
According to the Fact-Finding Mission, Ms. Moradi is the third woman to be sentenced to death for activism, following Pakhsan Azizi and Sharifeh Mohammadi.
Although Sharifeh Mohammadi’s death sentence was annulled in October 2024, she remains at risk of execution.
In recent days, in addition to sentencing Varisheh Moradi to death, the Iranian judiciary has issued death sentences for six individuals accused in the Ekbatan case, including Milad Armoon, Alireza Kafaei, Amir Mohammad Khosh Eghbal, Navid Najaran, Hossein Nemati, and Alireza Barmarzpour Nak.
The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran wrote on its Instagram page:
“The FFM Iran is alarmed by the sentencing to death of women activists in Iran, including Varisheh Moradi sentenced to death on charges of ‘armed rebellion.’
“The Fact-Finding Mission has called on the Iranian government to halt executions and immediately suspend the death penalty with the aim of complete abolition.”
On September 13, the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran also released an 11-page report on the condition of women and girls related to the 2022 protests.
The report mentions that nationwide protests in Iran began on September 16, 2022, with the unlawful death of Jina Mahsa Amini while in custody of the regime’s security forces.
The Fact-Finding Mission reiterated its call for accountability and justice for victims, especially women and girls, urging governments to adhere to their human rights commitments.
The Fact-Finding Mission called for an immediate halt to the use of the death penalty, as well as the repeal of compulsory hijab laws and policies that suppress the rights of women and girls.
The Mission is continuing its investigation into these and other incidents and will present its next report to the Human Rights Council at its 58th session in March 2025.
