Re-post from Shahrokh Zamani Action Campaign
The following is the Khuzestan Vanguard Socialist Workers’ Cell’s message about the death sentence of Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labour activist.
We condemn the government’s revenge against labour activists!
According to news reports, on Thursday, July 4th 2024, the first branch of the Rasht Revolutionary Court, tried and sentenced to death Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labour and civil activist imprisoned in Lakan prison. She was charge with “armed rebellion” (“armed rebellion” in the Islamic Penal Code means involvement in an armed uprising against the Islamic government).
Sharifeh Mohammadi has been accused and convicted for being a member of the Co-ordination Committee for Establishing Labour Organisations ten years ago. As reported in the news, the court has invoked Article 287 of the Islamic Penal Code to issue the death sentence. According to this article: “A group that starts an armed uprising against the foundation of the Islamic Republic of Iran is considered a rebellious, and in case of using weapons, its members will be sentenced to death.”
Sharifeh Mohammadi was arrested on December 5th 2023 and spent several months in solitary confinement.
Reports indicate she was subjected to severe physical and psychological torture and pressure to get a forced confession. Also, this labour and civic activist has been deprived of the right to visit her family and make phone calls.
Mohammadi’s death sentence was issued while security and judicial clashes with labour activists, teachers and pensioners have intensified in recent weeks. Another measure taken by the government was the expulsion of Yaser Ahmadinejad, one of the prominent workers of Iran’s National Drilling Company, from the factory by the security staff.
The non-participation of conscious workers in the arranged elections is one of the main reasons for taking revenge on the labour activists, which we strongly condemn and we will promote it at the international level to isolate this anti-worker government.
Khuzestan Vanguard Socialist Workers’ Cell
Organiser: Comrade Martin
5 July 2024