Iran overturns death sentence for female activist linked to Komala

Iran overturns death sentence for female activist accused of links to Komala — Sharifeh Mohammadi, a prominent Iranian labor rights activist, 2024. Photo: SM/via iKurd.net

TEHRAN,— Iran’s Supreme Court has annulled the death sentence imposed on Sharifeh Mohammadi, a prominent labor rights activist accused of connections to an outlawed Kurdish group.

This decision was reported by local media outlets on Saturday, providing a glimmer of hope in a case that has drawn international attention.

Mohammadi’s lawyer, Amir Raisian, shared the news with the reformist newspaper Shargh, stating, “The Supreme Court has overturned the verdict against my client, Ms. Sharifeh Mohammadi.” He further noted that the case has now been sent back for retrial, indicating that the legal battle is far from over.

The move comes against the backdrop of Iran’s notorious reputation for carrying out a high number of executions, second only to China, according to human rights organizations, including Amnesty International. Mohammadi, aged 45, received her death sentence in July after her arrest in Rasht, a city in northern Iran.

Rights groups have reported that she is alleged to be a member of the Komala party, a Kurdish separatist organization based in Iraqi Kurdistan region, which the Iranian Islamic government designates as a “terrorist” group.

This accusation is particularly contentious given the political climate in Iran, where Kurdish groups in Iraqi Kurdistan have been blamed for inciting widespread protests following the tragic death of Mahsa Jina Amini in police custody in September 2022. Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, died after being detained for purportedly violating the country’s strict dress code for women.

Iran’s regime employs capital punishment for a range of serious offenses, including terrorism, murder, drug trafficking, and sexual crimes. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the Iranian government has enforced discriminatory policies against the Kurdish population, limiting their social, political, and economic rights.

The Kurdish community in Iran, estimated to number over 12 million, faces systemic discrimination in various aspects of life, including employment, housing, and political representation. Additionally, cultural and religious freedoms are often stifled; for instance, parents are prohibited from giving their children certain Kurdish names, and religious minorities within this group frequently encounter marginalization.

As the retrial approaches, the case of Sharifeh Mohammadi underscores the broader issues of human rights and ethnic discrimination in Iran, highlighting the ongoing struggle for justice and equality among the Kurdish people.

(With files from AFP | Agencies)