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formerly known as
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'Insight is the first step of resistance against any ideologic form of dictatorial and misogynistic oppression'

Tribute to KIAN PIRFALA, 9 years old and victim of the Islamic Republic's savagery 10 years ago.

Special reports about the Afghanistan Women Revolt
Updated Jan 10, 2025
For the 'Women's Arab Spring 1.2
Updated Jan. 10, 2025
 

Syria: the Fall of Assad and aftermath
Updates Jan 15,2025

PALESTINE
Updated Jan 13, 2025

HAIL TO THE IRANIAN WOMEN'S REVOLUTIONISTS FALLEN FOR FREDOM
against the supreme leader, the arch-reactionary Ayatollah Ali Khomeini, and his placeman president. The message of the women when the former president visited a university was plain: <give way or get lost> in 2023 and still is.
IN MEMORY OF ASRA PANAHI (16)- JINA MAMINI (22) - NIKA SHAKARAMI (16), SARINA ESMAILZADEH (16) HADIS NAJAFI (20), AND MORE WOMEN WHO WERE ASSASINATED SO FAR BY THE IRANIAN AXIS OF EVIL.
  Click here for a total list so far

(Updates January 16, 2025) z

UPDATES OF THE UPRISING  AND REVOLUTION AROUND THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF JINA AMINI IN CUSTODY OF THE REGIME'S ATTEMPT AND CRUELTY TO TRY AND CRUSH IT.

This links to a page that is in full dedicated and a tribute to Jina Amini who, with stilll 'till today too many other sisters gave their life for freedom. Long live a long and free Iran And do read also the above linked  incredible December 2023 update! despite the mullahs' regime to force it down! Her mother speaks out loud and clear UPDATED: September 29 - 16, 2024 Second Anniversary of Jina Amini's state-sanctioned murder incl. Commemorating Bloody Friday and earlier news about a wave of arrests of her fellow-citizen

We all grief for the loss of our sister / daughter of Iran Armita Gevarnand:   Read her updated story here

'War against the No-hijabi women' Update Dec. 20, 2024: Iranian Women Rise Against the New Hijab Law with the Slogan "Woman, Resistance, Freedom" Nov. 13, 2024: hijab-torture clinics

Earlier Stories and more

MARJAM AKBARI MONFARED June 24, 2024: The Iranian Regime Judiciary Launches a New Case to Seize the Assets of Maryam Akbari Monfared and Her Family, in Revenge for Seeking Justice for Her Siblings Executed in the 1980s Click the above for also earlier news

January 8, 2025 - December 28 - 4, 2024
Sisters 4 each other, Sisters 4 All
in continuation of the below resistence of the 3 sisters

When one hurts or kills a women
one hurts or kills hummanity and is an antrocitie.
Gino d'Artali
and: My mother (1931-1997) always said to me <Mi figlio, non esistono notizie <vecchie> perche puoi imparare qualcosa da qualsiasi notizia.> Translated: <My son, there is no such thing as so called 'old' news because you can learn something from any news.>
Gianna d'Artali.

Dear reader, let us, apart from all the other news following please read first the most inspiring but alas also most disturbing news.
In other words: Rise more for the 'Woman, Life, Freedom' uprisal. Gino d'Artali
 

January 11 - 9, 2025
Imminent Risk of Execution of Pakhshan Azizi because "I'm Kurdish, I'm a woman"
 
Actual news January 15 - 12, 2025

Women protest death sentence against Pakhshan Azizi
Jinha - Womens News Agency - January 15, 2025
<<Women protest death sentence against Pakhshan Azizi in front of governor's office in Sanandaj
Women activists gathering in front of the governor’s office in Sanandaj protest Iran's Supreme Court for upholding the death sentence of Pakhshan Azizi, calling for revocation of the death sentence.
News Center- Since Iran's Supreme Court upheld the death sentence against Pakhshan Azizi, women, human rights defenders and organizations have condemned the decision and called on Iranian authorities to revoke the death sentence against her. On Wednesday, a group of women activists gathered in front of the governor's office in Sanandaj, a city in Rojhelat Kurdistan, and protested Iran's Supreme Court for upholding the death sentence of Pakhshan Azizi. The activists held photos of Pakhshan Azizi and chanted the "Jin, Jiyan, Azadi (English: Women, Life, Freedom)" slogan. "The death sentence handed down to Pakhshan Azizi is an unjust decision and against human values," the women said in a statement. "Today, we gather here to raise our voices against an obvious and unacceptable injustice. Pakhshan Azizi is a woman, a humanitarian worker who has devoted her life to helping people, working in refugee camps in the midst of humanitarian crises. She has become a symbol of resistance against hopelessness. Pakhshan is not only a humanitarian worker but also a beacon of hope for women suffering in the shadow of war and destruction, and for children who have no future but darkness. She believes that life is possible even amid crisis and destruction. However, this brave woman faces a penalty today, instead of being appreciated and praised for her incredible efforts. The death sentence handed down to her symbolizes injustice against humanitarian efforts and activities. Therefore, any attempt to silence her voice is an attempt to suppress these fundamental values. We call on Iranian authorities to revoke the death sentence against her because the revocation of her death sentence will be a small step to restore the reputation of the criminal justice system." >>
Source: https://jinhaagency.com/en/actual/women-protest-death-sentence-against-pakhshan-azizi-in-front-of-governor-s-office-in-sanandaj-36347?page=1

Jinha - Womens News Agency - January 15, 2025
<<42 religious leaders call for revocation of death sentence against Pakhshan Azizi
In a joint statement, 42 religious leaders called Iranian authorities to revoke the death sentences handed down to Pakhshan Azizi and Warisha Moradi (Verisheh Moradi).
News Center- 42 religious leaders have issued a joint statement for Pakhshan Azizi, a Kurdish journalist and humanitarian worker, whose death sentence was upheld by the Iranian Supreme Court, calling on Iranian authorities to revoke the death sentenced handed down to Pakhshan Azizi and Warisha Moradi (Verisheh Moradi). Condemning the wave of detention and arrest against people, the statement said, "Iranian authorities must stop using judiciary as a tool of repression. Otherwise, the gap between the citizens and the government will deepen even more." >>
Source: https://jinhaagency.com/en/actual/42-religious-leaders-call-for-revocation-of-death-sentences-against-pakhshan-azizi-36344?page=1

Iranwire - January 13, 2025
<<Activists Call for Suspension of Pakhshan Azizi's Death Sentence
Over 120 Kurdish civil rights, human rights, and political activists have demanded the suspension of Pakhshan Azizi's death sentence and called for a review of her case. The activists say that such severe sentencing exacerbates existing societal tensions and widens the divide between citizens and government authorities. They added in a statement that capital punishment is against "rational, customary, legal, or jurisprudential standards" and warned it would only deepen public dissatisfaction amid ongoing national crises. Azizi, a resident of Mahabad, was arrested by security forces in Tehran on August 4, 2023, and subsequently transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. She was previously detained by security forces on November 16, 2009, and released on bail after four months. Last week, Iran's Supreme Court upheld her death sentence despite significant procedural concerns raised by her legal team, according to her lawyer Amir Raisian. Branch 39 of the Supreme Court confirmed the verdict, which includes an additional four-year prison term, without addressing what Raisian described as numerous procedural and flaws in the case. The original sentence was issued by Tehran's Revolutionary Court on charges of "armed rebellion through membership in opposition groups." >>
Source: https://iranwire.com/en/news/138058-activists-call-for-suspension-of-pakhshan-azizis-death-sentence/


Sepideh Qolian
Hengaw Organisation for Human Right - 12 Jan 2025
Sepideh Qolian: ""Jin, Jiyan, Azadi" is a blueprint for survival in a land where death has become law"
Sepideh Qolian, a political prisoner held in Tehran's Evin Prison, has penned a powerful letter condemning the upholding of the death sentence against Pakshan Azizi, a Kurdish woman. In her letter, she writes:
"They fear the voices of these women because they know that a voice rising from a century of oppression echoes in the streets. They know that 'Jin, Jiyan, Azadi' is not just a slogan; it is a chain that binds hands to hands and voices to voices."
The full text of her letter, as obtained by Hengaw, is as follows:
"Jin, Jiyan, Azadi (Woman, Life, Freedom)" is not merely a slogan-it is an open wound, a scar etched into this land that, despite its pain, continuously gives birth to life. These three words originated in Kurdistan and have resonated across the streets, tongues, and hearts of people-not just as words but as a pulse. This slogan represents a roadmap for survival in a land where death has been institutionalized. The agents of death seek to tighten the noose around these words-not only to silence two women but to sever the roots of freedom itself. Today, Varisheh Moradi and Pakshan Azizi, two Kurdish women, stand as symbols of resistance. Their names rest on our lips, yet the shadow of execution looms over us all.
The architects and enforcers of death wage war against light and life. They aim to bend the mountains and stop rivers from flowing. Yet, they forget that the roots of the oak tree remain alive beneath the soil, drawing strength from the blood-soaked earth of this land. They fear the voices of these women because they know that a voice rising from a century of oppression reverberates in the streets. They know that "Jin, Jiyan, Azadi" is not just a slogan but a chain that links hands and unites voices. The death-makers attempt to hide their grotesque faces behind manufactured masks. They spread fear and impose silence to break this chain of voices. But we know that distancing ourselves from the state's narrative is insufficient. Our voices must transform into a roar, making it clear that we reject death in all its forms. Varisheh and Pakshan must survive. They are the lifeblood of this chain, connecting the mountains of Kurdistan to the plains of Balochistan, the streets of Azerbaijan to the villages of Khuzestan, binding hands and voices across the land.
Sepideh Qolian
January 11, 2025
Evin Prison>>
Source: https://hengaw.net/en/news/1403-10-article-103

Earlier reports:
Jinha - Womens News Agency - January 14, 2025
<<Forum of Iranian Women demands Iran halt execution of Pakhshan Azizi
The Forum of Iranian Women (German: Forum Iranischer Frauen-FIFI) has published a statement on its social media accounts, condemning Iran's Supreme Court for upholding the death sentence of Kurdish activist Pakhshan Azizi.
News Center- The Forum of Iranian Women (German: Forum Iranischer Frauen-FIFI) published a statement on its social media accounts on Monday, condemning Iran's Supreme Court for upholding the conviction and death sentence of Kurdish activist and journalist Pakhshan Azizi imprisoned in Evin prison.
'The decision aims to silence people demanding freedom'
In the statement, the forum said that the decision of the Iranian Supreme Court "aims to silence people demanding freedom". "The criminal and misogynist regime of Iran has once again revealed its repressive nature by upholding the death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi, disregarding human rights," the statement said. "This brutal step is a failed attempt to silence Iranian people demanding freedom. The Iranian authorities must halt the death sentence. We condemn this inhumane decision and call on the international community to take urgent action."

Varisha Moradi
The forum also condemned the death sentence handed down to Warisha Moradi (Verisheh Moradi), a Kurdish political prisoner and a member of the East Kurdistan Free Women Society (KJAR). "The Islamic Republic of Iran should know that such penalties cannot undermine the struggle for justice and democracy but strengthen it. No to execution for Pakhshan Azizi and Warisha Moradi." >>
Source: https://jinhaagency.com/en/actual/forum-of-iranian-women-demands-iran-halt-execution-of-pakhshan-azizi-36337?page=1

Jinha - Womens News Agency - January 14, 2025
<<WANA: Stop execution of Pakhshan Azizi
"We must unite to ensure that the life and voice of Pakhshan Azizi continue to inspire hope and change for the next generations," the WANA (West Asia & North Africa) Women Solidarity Network (WSN) said in a statement.
News Center- The WANA (West Asia & North Africa) Women Solidarity Network (WSN) has issued a written statement, calling for urgent action for Pakhshan Azizi, whose death sentence was upheld by the Iranian Supreme Court.
The statement emphasized that Pakhshan Azizi could be executed at any moment and said:
"As the members of the WANA (West Asia & North Africa) Women Solidarity Network (WSN), we call on the international community, governments, human rights organizations and women's rights defenders to take urgent action to stop the execution of Pakhshan Azizi, a courageous humanitarian worker and civil society activist. The Iranian Supreme Court upheld her death sentence and she could be executed at any moment. Pakhshan Azizi has dedicated her life to defending the rights of vulnerable women, challenging inequality and fighting for justice in her society. Her unwavering commitment to human rights is a glimmer of hope for many. Her execution will not only constitute a terrible injustice and also silence a vital voice for development and equality in Iran."
'Execution is a shameful stain on humanity'
"The use of the death penalty to silence activists like Pakhshan Azizi is a violation of fundamental human rights and a shameful stain on humanity. Taking urgent action to prevent this irreversible injustice is a must. We call on all people, organizations and institutions dedicated to justice and human rights to join us in condemning this brutal penalty. We must stand with Pakhshan Azizi, her family and her community and demand the immediate annulment of the death penalty. Time is of the essence. Together, we must reaffirm humanitarian values and raise our voice when women's rights activists are targeted for their courage and advocacy. We must unite to ensure that the life and voice of Pakhshan Azizi continue to inspire hope and change for the next generations." >>
Source: https://jinhaagency.com/en/actual/wana-stop-execution-of-pakhshan-azizi-36335

Jinha - Womens News Agency - January 13, 2024
<<Shirin Ebadi calls on everyone to unite against death penalty in Iran
Shirin Ebadi, an Iranian Nobel laureate and human rights activist, called on everyone to unite against the death penalty after the Iranian Supreme Court upheld the death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi.
News Center- Shirin Ebadi, Iranian lawyer, writer, and teacher, who received the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2003, has published a statement on her social media account after the Iranian Supreme Court upheld the death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi. In the statement, Shirin Ebadi pointed to the role of the opposition in reducing oppression by the Iranian regime and said, "The regime uses the judicial system as a tool of fear and oppression to silence activists and defenders of freedom. The upholding of Pakhshan Azizi's death sentence shows that the regime uses the death penalty to suppress the protests and resistance across the country." In the statement, Shirin Ebadi called on everyone to unite against the death sentences for Pakhshan Azizi and other political prisoners in Iran.>>
Source: https://jinhaagency.com/en/actual/shirin-ebadi-calls-on-everyone-to-unite-against-death-penalty-in-iran-36330

Medyanews - December 11, 2025
<<Iran faces international pressure as Supreme Court upholds Pakhshan Azizi’s death sentence
Following the confirmation of Pakhshan Azizi's death sentence alongside two other political prisoners, a global wave of protests has erupted against the verdict. In addition to statements from five political prisoners in Qezel Hesar Prison, the DEM Party, Nobel Prize laureates, and Amnesty International have all condemned Azizi's sentencing.
Responding to the confirmation of the death sentence of Kurdish social activist Pakhshan Azizi and two other political prisoners, five political detainees in Qezel Hesar prison, Tehran, published an open letter urging international human rights organisations to intervene to stop the executions in Iran and secure Azizi's release.
In a letter released by Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRANA) on 10 January, these five political prisoners denounced the execution of death sentences against Azizi, Behrouz Ehsani, and Mehdi Hosseini, characterising the Iranian state's actions as a desperate bid to "terrorise society". The prisoners asserted that the regime, through the <criminal jurist> who sanctions and oversees these sentences, is under the illusion that a spate of killings can silence the populace. However, they declared that this ultimate tactic of suppression-executions-will no longer ensure the regime's survival. The letter further highlighted that over 50 other political and ideological prisoners, alongside thousands of others, are currently on death row.
In the wake of news about the death sentence for Azizi, families in Sanandaj (Sine) and Bokan, Iranian Kurdistan (Rojhilat), whose loved ones were killed during the 2022 protests, released video messages, protesting the sentences against Azizi and Warisheh Moradi. They called upon international human rights organisations for support.
The Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party Women's Assembly, issued a statement on 9 January condemning the sentence, attributing it to the "enmity of the mullahs' fascist regime" towards women. The DEM Party asserted that Azizi was specifically targeted for her defence of her Kurdish and female identity, declaring that they would not remain silent in the face of assaults on women worldwide. In parallel, Amnesty International condemned the Iranian Supreme Court’s confirmation of the death sentence against Azizi on 10 January, describing it as "unjust" and emphasising that her activities were "humanitarian, human rights-oriented, and peaceful." The organisation urged Iranian authorities to halt Azizi's execution and release her immediately.
Hadi Qaemi, director of the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI), described the sentence as "a clear example of injustice". He stated that Iran's judiciary entirely disregarded evidence proving Azizi's work in refugee camps was humanitarian. He further remarked that this death sentence illustrates how the Islamic Republic wields the death penalty to silence activists, especially those from minority communities and women.
On 10 January, the Iranian Human Rights Organisation condemned the issuance and confirmation of Azizi's death sentence as part of the Islamic Republic's intimidation policy following the "Women, Life, Freedom" uprising. The organisation called on the international community to intervene to halt the executions and overturn Azizi’s sentence immediately. Mahmoud Amiri Moghadam, the organisation's director, termed Azizi's death sentence "illegal", asserting it was imposed to suppress civil society at the behest of security institutions. He stressed that the international community must robustly condemn this sentence, as only by raising the political cost can this crime be prevented. The Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers Union called Azizi a "helper and activist stationed in the camps of the displaced people of Shengal," noting her sentence was issued without a proper examination of legal objections and evidence. The council remarked that the Islamic Republic's decrees underscore that repression and violence are its primary means of survival. The International Committee Against the Death Penalty, in protest against Azizi's and other death sentences in Iran, declared: "Amidst high public anger and protest, and with the Islamic Republic in a weakened state, this barbaric regime must not be allowed to use executions to further oppress the people."

Jina Amini
Mozhgan Eftekhari, mother of Jina (Mahsa) Amini, who was killed by the morality police in Tehran in September 2022, wrote on Instagram: "Beyond any disagreement, the right to life is a fundamental human right that must be protected. Supporting life is supporting humanity."
Shirin Ebadi, the first Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate, described the Supreme Court's confirmation of Azizi's death sentence as "unjust and inhumane", labelling it an attempt by the Islamic Republic to create an atmosphere of terror. She called for unity to cancel the death sentences of Azizi, Warisheh Moradi, Mujahid Korkur, and all others facing execution in Iranian prisons.

Narges Mohammadi
Narges Mohammadi, the second Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate, currently on medical leave from prison, condemned the approval of Azizi's sentence as evidence of the Islamic Republic's resolve to intensify the oppression of women and exact revenge against the "Women, Life, Freedom" movement.>>
Source: https://medyanews.net/iran-faces-international-pressure-as-supreme-court-upholds-pakhshan-azizis-death-sentence/

Earlier reports
Hengaw Organisation for Human Right - December 11, 2025
<<Pakhshan Azizi's death sentence is one step away from execution
Hengaw Organization for Human Rights Statement Condemning the Death Sentence of Pakhshan Azizi
Hengaw Organization for Human Rights strongly condemns the Iranian Supreme Court's upholding of the death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi, a Kurdish political prisoner, women's rights activist, and social worker. This ruling exemplifies the mockery of judicial processes and the violation of international standards of fair trial, including principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Articles 10 and 11) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Articles 6 and 14). Hengaw confirms that Pakhshan Azizi's death sentence has been forwarded to the enforcement unit. This step not only signals the Islamic Republic of Iran's intent to commit another state-sanctioned killing but also serves as a grave warning of the imminent risk of carrying out this shameful sentence. Pakhshan Azizi was sentenced to death following a trial devoid of fair trial principles, on charges of <armed rebellion.> However, the court ruling itself alleges her activities as a <military unit commander> were not conducted within Iran or even its neighboring country, Iraq, but in Syria, without providing any evidence. Furthermore, the ruling ambiguously links her activities as a "women's studies and gender studies instructor" to her alleged leadership of a military group-a clear misrepresentation unrelated to armed activities. Another section of the ruling cites her connections with families seeking justice for victims of the 2022 protests and her encouragement of their pursuit of justice as grounds for her conviction. This alone demonstrates the farcical nature of the Iranian judiciary, where calls for justice for civilian victims of extrajudicial killings are met with death sentences. Most of Pakhshan Azizi's activities in Syria involved supporting survivors of ISIS atrocities and aiding vulnerable populations through organizations such as the "Kurdish Red Crescent Society" and the "Shams Development and Rehabilitation Organization," both of which operated with official permits. Certificates of her work with these organizations were presented in court, underscoring her deep commitment to peace and humanitarian principles. The forwarding of Pakhshan Azizi's death sentence to the enforcement unit, alongside a similar ruling for Varisheh Moradi, reflects a concerted effort to normalize the execution of female political prisoners, particularly Kurdish women. This act is reminiscent of the 2010 execution of Shirin Alam-Houli and a return to the barbarity of the 1980s, posing a serious threat to other female prisoners.
Violations of international and human rights obligations
1. Violation of the Right to Life
The referral of this sentence to the enforcement unit blatantly violates Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a party. This article obligates states to refrain from imposing the death penalty in discriminatory processes or those violating fair trial standards.
2. Unfair Trial
The issuance of Pakhshan Azizi's death sentence was riddled with extensive violations that fundamentally undermine any claim of judicial due process:
- Interference of security agencies in judicial proceedings,
- Lack of impartial review of evidence,
- Convictions based on baseless allegations and insufficient evidence, are only few among the long list of violation.
This death sentence epitomizes the systemic oppression of ethnic/national minorities and women in the Islamic Republic of Iran, highlighting entrenched discrimination within the country's judicial system.
Hengaw's call to action to the United Nations, Governments, and Human Rights Organizations
1. We urge the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran to prioritize this case as a matter of utmost urgency.
2. We call on the UN Fact-Finding Mission to expedite documentation of this case as part of its investigation into the Islamic Republic's systematic repression.
3. We ask governments to impose targeted sanctions on judicial and security officials responsible for Pakhshan Azizi's case.
4. Diplomatic and international pressure must be exerted on the Islamic Republic to halt this execution immediately and ensure her case is re- examined in compliance with fair trial standards.
Warning of a new wave of executions in Iran
According to Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, since the start of 2024, the Islamic Republic of Iran has executed at least 901 individuals. This statistic illustrates the systematic use of executions as a tool to instill fear in society and suppress dissent. Hengaw warns that Pakhshan Azizi’s life is in grave danger, and her imminent execution could signal a resurgence of the execution of female political prisoners in Iran. We call on the global community to recognize the urgency of this situation and utilize all available tools to halt this sentence. At the same time, we invite the Iranian people and human rights activists to raise their voices against this injustice and employ all peaceful means to support Pakhshan Azizi and other political prisoners at risk of execution. Civil society's solidarity and resistance play a key role in preventing the recurrence of such human tragedies. The time to act is now.>>
Source: https://hengaw.net/en/news/1403-10-article-101


Sepideh Qolian
Hengaw Organisation for Human Right - January 12, 2025
<<Sepideh Qolian: "Jin, Jiyan, Azadi is a blueprint for survival in a land where death has become law"
Sepideh Qolian, a political prisoner held in Tehran's Evin Prison, has penned a powerful letter condemning the upholding of the death sentence against Pakshan Azizi, a Kurdish woman. In her letter, she writes:
"They fear the voices of these women because they know that a voice rising from a century of oppression echoes in the streets. They know that "Jin, Jiyan, Azadi" is not just a slogan; it is a chain that binds hands to hands and voices to voices."
The full text of her letter, as obtained by Hengaw, is as follows:
"Jin, Jiyan, Azadi (Woman, Life, Freedom)" is not merely a slogan-it is an open wound, a scar etched into this land that, despite its pain, continuously gives birth to life. These three words originated in Kurdistan and have resonated across the streets, tongues, and hearts of people-not just as words but as a pulse. This slogan represents a roadmap for survival in a land where death has been institutionalized. The agents of death seek to tighten the noose around these words-not only to silence two women but to sever the roots of freedom itself. Today, Varisheh Moradi and Pakshan Azizi, two Kurdish women, stand as symbols of resistance. Their names rest on our lips, yet the shadow of execution looms over us all.
The architects and enforcers of death wage war against light and life. They aim to bend the mountains and stop rivers from flowing. Yet, they forget that the roots of the oak tree remain alive beneath the soil, drawing strength from the blood-soaked earth of this land. They fear the voices of these women because they know that a voice rising from a century of oppression reverberates in the streets. They know that "Jin, Jiyan, Azadi" is not just a slogan but a chain that links hands and unites voices. The death-makers attempt to hide their grotesque faces behind manufactured masks. They spread fear and impose silence to break this chain of voices. But we know that distancing ourselves from the state’s narrative is insufficient. Our voices must transform into a roar, making it clear that we reject death in all its forms.
Varisheh and Pakshan must survive. They are the lifeblood of this chain, connecting the mountains of Kurdistan to the plains of Balochistan, the streets of Azerbaijan to the villages of Khuzestan, binding hands and voices across the land.
Sepideh Qolian
January 11, 2025
Evin Prison>>
Source: https://hengaw.net/en/news/1403-10-article-103


Behrouz Ehsani, Pakhshan Azizi, and Mehdi Hassani
NCRI - January 11, 2025 - in Women's News
<<68 Political Prisoners Demand the Reversal of Three Death Sentences in Iran
A group of male and female political prisoners detained in Evin, Ghezel Hesar (Karaj), Lakan (Rasht), and Greater Tehran prisons has issued an open letter urging international organizations and institutions to use their full capacity to take effective action to halt the execution of three political prisoners: Pakhshan Azizi, Mehdi Hassani, and Behrouz Ehsani. On January 8, 2025, Iran's Supreme Court upheld the death sentences for Pakhshan Azizi, Behrouz Ehsani Eslamlou, and Mehdi Hassani, all imprisoned in Evin Prison. The Revolutionary Court of Tehran, under Judge Iman Afshari, had previously sentenced them to death. The full text of the letter, signed by 68 political prisoners in response to the Supreme Court's ruling, is as follows:
68 Political Prisoners from Iran’s Prisons Call for the Abolition of the Death Penalty
As the ruling regime in Iran continues its destructive domestic and international policies, it has plunged the country into a horrifying state of crisis. The regime's solution has been to escalate repression across social, political, and cultural spheres. Alarmed by the possibility of renewed protests, the regime seeks to maintain its grip on power by intensifying the use of the death penalty, creating an atmosphere of fear and terror. In 2024 alone, over 1,000 executions were carried out in Iran, accounting for nearly 75% of all executions worldwide.
The Supreme Court recently upheld the death sentences for three political prisoners-Pakhshan Azizi, Behrouz Ehsani, and Mehdi Hassani-raising fears of their imminent execution.
We, a group of political prisoners from Evin, Ghezel Hesar, Lakan, and Greater Tehran prisons, unequivocally condemn the death penalty as a form of state-sponsored murder and call for the complete abolition of this inhumane and reactionary practice.
In addition, we express our full support for Pakhshan Azizi, Behrouz Ehsani, and Mehdi Hassani. We appeal to the Iranian public and international organizations, particularly human rights bodies, to leverage all their resources to save the lives of these political prisoners facing imminent execution. We also call for collective efforts to eradicate the death penalty in its entirety.
Signed by:
68 Political Prisoners imprisoned inEvin Prison, Ghezel Hesar Prison (Karaj), Lakan Prison (Rasht), Greater Tehran Prison>>
Source: https://wncri.org/2025/01/11/68-political-prisoners-death-sentences/

Iran Human Rights - January 9, 2025
<<Imminent Risk of Execution of Kurdish Woman Activist After Grossly Unfair Trial
If Carried Out, Pakhshan Azizi Will Be First Woman Political Prisoner Hanged in Iran in 14 Years
Death Sentence Upheld Despite Torture, Evidence of Innocence of Charges
The first woman political prisoner in 14 years in Iran is facing imminent execution, after a blatantly unfair appeal process that upheld her death sentence. If carried out, this will mark a grave escalation in the Islamic Republic's unlawful use of the death penalty against its political opponents - and against women-and it should be met with an international outcry, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) said today. Iran's Supreme Court upheld the death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi, a 40-year-old Kurdish humanitarian worker and civil society advocate, following a prosecution riddled with coerced confessions, inadequate legal representation, severe due process violations, and court proceedings that ignored evidence of torture and evidence vindicating her of the alleged crimes. "This is a shocking miscarriage of justice," said Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of CHRI. "The Iranian judiciary has blatantly ignored evidence submitted to the court that Pakhshan Azizi's work in refugee camps was purely humanitarian and not linked to any political or armed activity. This death sentence is yet another example of the Islamic Republic's unlawful use of capital punishment to silence activists, especially members of minority communities, and to terrorize Iran’s women into submission," Ghaemi said. "The world must urgently speak out before this woman is killed." CHRI calls on the UN, Member States, and human rights organizations worldwide to demand that the Iranian authorities immediately:
Annul Pakhshan Azizi's death sentence;
Immediately halt all pending executions;
Institute a moratorium on death sentences, given Iran’s egregious record of due process violations and other abuses of international law governing capital punishment.
Lawyer: "The Supreme Court ignored the flaws in the investigation and paid no attention to evidence" According to Azizi's lawyer, Amir Raesian, the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence issued by Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran, rejecting an appeal that pointed out numerous investigative flaws and a lack of credible evidence. Following the death sentence issued by Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran against Ms. Azizi, we filed an appeal. The appeal was heard by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court, and unfortunately, despite numerous objections to the case, the appeal was rejected and the death sentence was confirmed," Raesian told Shargh newspaper on January 8. [The Supreme Court] ignored the flaws in the investigation and paid no attention to evidence that showed Ms. Azizi's case does not merit the death sentence, and that her activities in refugee camps in northern Syria and other locations for people displaced by the war with ISIS, were peaceful activities that had no political dimensions and centered around providing aid to victims of ISIS attacks," he added.
Violently Arrested, Tortured to Extract False <Confessions>
Azizi, who was born in Mahabad, northwestern Iran, and has a bachelor’s degree in social work from Allameh Tabatabai University in Tehran, was violently arrested at her home in Tehran on August 4, 2023, by state security forces who threw her to the ground, hands tied behind her back, and held a gun to her head, according to her account. Her family members were also detained and later sentenced to one year in prison each for <assisting a criminal to escape trial and conviction.> During her detention, Ms. Azizi was denied legal counsel, subjected to severe psychological and physical torture, including five months of solitary confinement and prolonged interrogation sessions designed to extract false confessions-a routine tactic used by the Islamic Republic to convict peaceful activists of bogus national security crimes. In a letter published in July 2024, Azizi detailed the torture she was subjected to during her detention, including being subjected to mock executions. "During interrogations, they hanged me multiple times, buried me 10 meters underground, then pulled me back up, only to label me as a broken and defeated individual...For the central authority, we [the Kurdish minority in Iran] are small, we don't count, but for their decrees, we are the heaviest and greatest. Humiliation and threats filled the air in the worst physical and mental conditions resulting from prolonged hunger strikes and five months of solitary confinement (the most dreadful white torture) … The same cell where [I] had been held in 2009 for the same charges of 'being Kurdish' and 'being a woman.'" On July 23, 2024, Azizi was sentenced to death on the sham charge of <armed rebellion against the state> by Branch 26 of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Court and sentenced to four years in prison for alleged membership in the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK), an accusation which she and her lawyers have denied. Ms. Azizi's case stems from her humanitarian efforts in refugee camps in northern Syria and Iraq, where she provided aid to people displaced by the war with ISIS. Azizi's lawyer had posted multiple letters from international civil society organizations active in the affairs of refugees in Syria's Kurdish region that confirmed her work with them as a relief and social worker was non-political and focused solely on aiding victims of conflict. Despite this, she was accused of <rebellion> under Article 287 of Iran’s Islamic Penal Code. Originally, she had been charged under Article 288, which does not include the punishment of death, but Judge Iman Afshari declared he was sentencing her in accordance with Article 287, underscoring the arbitrary and political motives driving her case. "In Ms. Azizi's case, the evidence presented against her was so unfounded that a careful examination would have cleared her of the rebellion charge. But unfortunately, no attention has been paid to it so far. Furthermore, despite the fact that innocence does not need to be proven, we presented credible evidence for it to the Supreme Court," Raesian added. Azizi was previously arrested in November 2009 during a gathering by students at Tehran University, protesting against politically motivated executions in Kurdistan, including the execution of 28- year-old Kurdish political prisoner Ehsan Fattahian. In September 2024, CHRI, along with 25 other human rights organizations, issued a joint statement calling for the immediate revocation of her death sentence and her release.
Huge Surge in Executions, Increasingly Used Against Political Prisoners and Women
The death sentence against Pakhshan Azizi, which takes place amidst a huge surge in executions in Iran (at least 901 people were reportedly executed in Iran in 2024), reflects two alarming trends in the Islamic Republic-protesters, activists, dissidents and other critics of the state are increasingly being executed after sham trials (a shocking 54 political prisoners in Iran are currently on death row), and women are now increasingly being executed. Moreover, the severe violations of due process and other judicial abuses that took place throughout Azizi's prosecution are routine in Iran; the denial of access to independent counsel (and, not infrequently, any counsel), the use of torture to extract false <confessions,> the court's refusal to address allegations of torture or to consider evidence presented by the defense, and the reliance on these <confessions> to convict, are routine in Islamic Republic courts-including in capital cases where people's lives are at stake. In addition, Azizi's Kurdish ethnic identity reflects the fact that the Islamic Republic continues to disproportionally apply the death penalty to members of Iran’s minority communities, especially the Kurdish and Baluchi communities. "The international community must not remain silent as the Islamic Republic seeks to execute Pakhshan Azizi. Iranian authorities are weaponizing the judicial system as a tool of repression, and this gross violation of due process sends a stark warning to every human rights defender and humanitarian worker in the country that their fate could be the gallows," Ghaemi said.>>
Source: https://iranhumanrights.org/2025/01/imminent-risk-of-execution-of-kurdish-woman-activist-after-grossly-unfair-trial/

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