Dozens of grieving families demand reversal of death sentences for Varisheh Moradi and Pakhshan Azizi
Hengaw; Thursday, November 21, 2024
Dozens of bereaved families have issued a statement condemning the death sentences handed down by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Highlighting the cases of Kurdish political activists Varisheh Moradi and Pakhshan Azizi, the families have called for the annulment of their death sentences and an end to capital punishment in Iran.
In conjunction with this statement, a petition has been launched, urging justice-seekers, activists, and advocates for fairness to amplify the voices of Verisha and Pakhshan. The petition demands urgent and concrete actions to abolish death sentences in Iran.
To date, over 2,000 political and civil activists, journalists, and bereaved families have signed the petition, reflecting growing national and international concern over the use of capital punishment in Iran.
The complete statement is provided below.
"Statement by Victim Families and Human Rights Activists on the Death Sentence of Varishe Moradi, Pakhshan Azizi and the Wave of Executions in Iran"
For months, the cry of "No to executions" has been echoing from the women's ward of Evin Prison and 24 other prisons across Iran. In the past two years, amid a surge in the number of executions and with over 250 people executed since the new administration took office, an average of five people are executed daily in Iran.
We, a group of bereaved families and civil and human rights activists in Iran, express our profound concern and sorrow over this unprecedented increase in executions. This joint call to action is a collective protest, urging the people of Iran, human rights organizations, and international institutions to take immediate and decisive steps.
To the People of Iran: By attending protests and amplifying your voices, show the world that we demand an end to executions and a commitment to human rights in Iran. Your solidarity and participation are potent forces in this struggle.
To Human Rights Organizations: We call on domestic and international human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the UN Human Rights Council, to continuously monitor the situation of prisoners in Iran and increase pressure on the Islamic Republic to halt executions.
To World Governments and International Organizations: We urge governments and international bodies to use all diplomatic and legal tools to hold the Islamic Republic accountable and prevent state-sanctioned murder by this regime. Following the execution of Jamshid Sharmahd, a German-American citizen, the closure of three Iranian consulates in Germany was a positive step toward responding to these executions.
To Media and Journalists: We appeal to domestic and international media and journalists to widely cover the alarming rise in executions and human rights violations in Iran, raising awareness and mobilizing public opinion on this crisis.
To the Iranian Diaspora: We urge all Iranians abroad to organize rallies, protests, and meetings with government representatives and parliament members to intensify pressure on the Islamic Republic.
To Save Varishe Moradi, Pakhshan Azizi, and all those sentenced to death, we call for simultaneous protests in dozens of cities worldwide. We hope that November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, will be a day when voices in numerous cities across the globe rise together to cry out "No to executions."
In conclusion, as a group of victims' families seeking justice and activists, we oppose all forms of state repression and violence against the people. We firmly believe that we can only achieve a fair and peaceful society through justice, equality, and respect for human rights.
