Death sentence of Kurdish political prisoner Varisheh Moradi overturned
Hengaw — Wednesday, December 10, 2025
The death sentence of Varisheh Moradi, a Kurdish political prisoner from Sanandaj (Sine) and a member of KJAR, the East Kurdistan Free Women’s Society, has been overturned. She is held in Evin Prison, and the case has been returned to the same issuing branch for a new review.
According to information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Branch 9 of the Supreme Court quashed Moradi’s death sentence in recent days because of incomplete investigations. The case has been sent back to Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court for reconsideration.
Her lawyer, Mostafa Nili, wrote on his X account that the Supreme Court accepted the appeal due to procedural flaws. He stated that the ruling was annulled because of incomplete investigations and the failure to properly inform Moradi of the charge that formed the basis of the death sentence. The case has been returned to Branch 15 for further review.
Moradi went on a 20-day hunger strike starting on October 10. The strike coincided with the World Day Against the Death Penalty. She began the protest in response to the issuance and implementation of death sentences by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
In November of last year, Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Abolghasem Salavati, sentenced her to death on the charge of “rebellion (baghi)” for membership in the Kurdistan Free Life Party, PJAK.
The final hearing in her case was held on October 6 of last year. Her lawyers were not allowed to review the case file during the first hearing on June 17 or during the second session. Moradi was also denied the right to defend herself in court.
She was abducted on August 1, 2023, by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence on the Marivan to Sanandaj road. She was beaten severely during the abduction and transferred to a detention facility without medical attention.
