Head of judiciary, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, c/o Embassy of Iran to the United Nations in Geneva
Chemin du Petit-Saconnex 28, 1209 Geneva, Switzerland

Mr. Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei,

Human rights defender Sharifeh Mohammadi, 45, is at risk of execution in Lakan prison, Rasht, Gilan province, after Branch Two of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht sentenced her to death for “armed rebellion against the state” (baghi), in a decision issued to her lawyers on 13 February. In October 2024, Branch 39 of the Supreme Court had overturned her conviction for “armed rebellion against the state” (baghi) and death sentence, and remanded her case to a lower court for further review.

On 19 December 2024, Sharifeh Mohammadi was tried again during a 30-minute session in a grossly unfair. Her lawyers’ request for Sharifeh Mohammadi to attend trial in person was rejected by the court and she connected from prison via video conference for 20 minutes. In a media interview on 19 February, one of Sharifeh Mohammadi’s lawyers highlighted procedural flaws during retrial, including the authorities failing to provide lawyers with sufficient notice of her trial date. Further, Amnesty International learned that Branch Two’s presiding judge is a close family relative Branch One’s presiding judge, which convicted and sentenced Sharifeh Mohammadi to death the first time in late June 2024. Amnesty International understands that Sharifeh Mohammadi will appeal to the Supreme Court.

Following Sharifeh Mohammadi’s arbitrary arrest in early December 2023, Ministry of Intelligence agents interrogated her about her human rights activism, including supporting women’s and workers’ rights as well as the abolition of the death penalty, and her past membership with the Coordinating Committee to Help to Form Workers’ Organizations, which advocates for trade unions. On 28 December 2023, she was transferred to a Ministry of Intelligence detention facility in Sanandaj, Kurdistan province, and according to informed sources, there agents subjected her to torture and ill-treatment to compel her forced “confessions”, including by repeatedly hitting her in the face and head while blindfolded, resulting in visible injuries. In late February 2024, she was transferred to Lakan prison.

I urge you to immediately halt any plans to execute Sharifeh Mohammadi, quash her conviction and death sentence and release her immediately and unconditionally, as she is held solely for her peaceful human rights activism. Pending her release, provide her with adequate healthcare and regular visits from family and lawyers; protect her from further torture and other ill-treatment; and order an independent, effective and impartial investigation into her torture allegations, bringing anyone suspected of criminal responsibility
to justice in fair trials and without resort to the death penalty. Also, immediately establish an official moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty.

Yours sincerely