Iran issues death sentence for Kurdish political prisoner Verisheh Moradi

Verisheh Moradi, a Kurdish political prisoner and a member of the East Kurdistan Free Women Society (KJAR), has been sentenced to death by Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran on charges of “armed insurrection” (baghi).

The verdict, handed down by Judge Abolghassem Salavati, followed two court hearings on 16 June and 5 October, and the death sentence was formally notified to Moradi’s lawyers on 10 November.

During the court hearings, Moradi was denied the right to defend herself, and the judge barred her lawyers from presenting a defence.

Additionally, the lawyers, who had previously been prevented from reviewing the case file, were only allowed a few hours to review the case after the second hearing.

Moradi’s death sentence contradicts an earlier indictment that referred to Article 288 of the Islamic Penal Code, which provides for a maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment. However, in an illegal ruling, Judge Salavati cited Article 287, which allows for the imposition of the death penalty in cases where individuals are involved in armed rebellion against the Islamic Republic.

Article 288 of Iran’s penal code stipulates that members of groups arrested before engaging in armed conflict can be sentenced to imprisonment rather than execution. In contrast, Article 287 allows for the death penalty for members of groups that engage in armed resistance against the state.

Moradi has also been denied family visitation rights since 6 May.

On 10 October, coinciding with the World Day Against the Death Penalty, Moradi went on a 20-day hunger strike in Tehran’s Evin Prison to protest the issuing and execution of death sentences by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

A few days ago, due to digestive complications following the hunger strike, she was transferred to a medical facility outside the prison, and returned after spending one night under care.

In a letter published by Radio Zamaneh a few days after she began her hunger strike, Moradi explained her reasons for going on hunger strike: “Do not let the transnational wars overshadow the internal repression. My hunger strike is part of that effort. We will not at any cost allow the voices of the internal fighters who have bravely stood up to be drowned out by the noise of wars and futile adventures”, she wrote.

The political prisoner also said that she went on hunger strike in support of the No to Executions campaigns around the world.

Moradi’s first hearing, originally scheduled for 13 May, was cancelled for undisclosed reasons, and on 14 May Judge Salavati ordered Moradi’s transfer to solitary confinement in Ward 209 for further interrogation.

Pakhshan Azizi and Moradi went on a hunger strike for two days in protest at the transfer.

The political prisoner also refused to attend her court hearing on 4 August in protest against the death sentences issued for Pakhshan Azizi and Sharifeh Mohammadi. In a prior statement published on the Bidarzani website, she had declared her decision to boycott the court proceedings in opposition to these sentences.

Moradi, a member of the East Kurdistan Free Women Society (KJAR) from Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province, was arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence on 1 August 2023 at the entrance to Sanandaj upon her return from Kermanshah, Kermanshah Province, where she had been involved in political and organisational activities.

She spent the first 13 days of her detention in the detention centre of this security institution in Sanandaj, and afterwards was transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison in Tehran.

During this period, she was subjected to pressure and threats to make forced confessions, and on 26 December 2023, after five months of solitary confinement, she was transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison.

Source: kurdistanhumanrights.org, Staff, November 11, 2024

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