The Collective Action of Independent Women Organizations expresses its solidarity with the struggles of people across the country against the death penalty. Currently, 54 prisoners have been sentenced to death for political charges and are at risk of execution. Pakhshan Azizi, Varisha Moradi, Babak Alipour, Behrouz Ehsani, Abbas and Habib Deris, Mojahed Korkor, and Mehdi Hasani are in immediate danger of execution. The death sentences of two Kurdish civil activist women have been upheld by the Supreme Court, putting their lives at even greater risk. In particular, Varisha Moradi, Pakhshan Azizi, and seven other female prisoners have been denied visitation rights.
It has been over 52 weeks that women and men prisoners have been fighting against execution sentences through the âNo to Tuesdays Executionsâ campaign in more than 34 prisons throughout Iran, standing against this state-sanctioned murder. Eleven teachersâ unions, despite the suppression of protests, with their courageous actions, have supported this campaign of No to Tuesday Executions across the country and called for the abolition of the death sentences of Pakhshan Azizi, Varisha Moradi, and others. Furthermore, numerous civil institutions, human rights organizations in Iran and worldwide, writers, poets, artists, journalists, political and civil activists, lawyers, teachers, workers, students, retirees, and the fighters of the revolutionary movement âWoman, Life, Freedomâ have called for the abolition of the death penalty and the release of Pakhshan Azizi and other convicts.
The widespread strike by business owners and merchants in Kurdistan on January 22, 2025, in protest of the death sentences of Pakhshan Azizi, Varisha Moradi, and others, and in defense of the right to live, brought cities across Kurdistan to a standstill. On January 23, the news of the suspension of Pakhshan Aziziâs execution was confirmed by her lawyer. However, conflicting reports from the regime media have been published on this matter, so vigilance is essential.
We support all the organizations that have been the voices of prisoners during this time and have stood against executions. We call on all womenâs organizations, unions, human rights organizations, and international bodies worldwide to unite and protest for the freedom and annulment of the death sentences of Pakhshan Azizi, Varisha Moradi, and other political and non-political prisoners. We demand an end to the death penalty.
In this critical situation, where the Islamic Republic regime is instilling fear and suppressing people using the ‘death penalty,’ we stand alongside the struggles of women in prisons and the various groups of people fighting in the streets. Building on the legacy of the revolutionary movement âWoman, Life, Freedomâ (Jin, Jiyan, Azadi), we stand with the struggle of women in prisons and different groups of people in the streets, and we say a resounding NO to the death penalty and demand the abolition of all execution sentences, regardless of the charges or beliefs of the prisoners.
January 2025
Signed by the following organizations:
Together for Womenâs Health Foundation
Free Iranian Womenâs Association – Italy
Dallas Iranian Womenâs Association
Iranian-German Womenâs Association in Cologne, Germany
Iranian Womenâs Association of Parto
Iranian Womenâs Association Montreal
MeToo Movement Iran
Iranian Circle of Women for International Networking (ICWIN)
Women for Sustainable Freedom and Equality
Iranian Women Activists in Exile â Berlin
IKERO Womenâs Rights Organization
The Organization for Emancipation of Women
IWIN Iranian Women in Network
Everyday Feminism
Forum of Iranian Women in Vienna
Collective of Woman, Life, Freedom – Rome
Campaign to Stop Honor Killings
Gender Equality Committee of Solidarity of Iranian Republicans
Left Unity of Women
Zanan Group in Northern California
Orange County Womenâs Study Group
Mannav LGBTQ Community – Sweden
Iranian Womenâs Assembly in Hanover