Death Sentence: Sharifeh Mohammadi’s Struggle
by Reyhane Gholami — 10July2024
Sharifeh Mohammadi, an Iranian social and labor activist, was sentenced to death on July 4, 2024, by the first branch of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht, located in the Gilan province. The sentence was handed down by Ahmad Darvishgoftar. Mohammadi was convicted on the charge of “Bagh-ye,” a grave offense under Iranian Islamic law that translates to armed insurgency against the Islamic state. This crime is considered extremely serious and carries the death penalty. The timing of Mohammadi’s sentence is particularly notable, as it was delivered just one day before the presidential election in Iran.
Born in June 1980 into a working-class family, Sharifeh Mohammadi pursued higher education in industrial design at Tehran University. During the 2000s, she became an active member of the Coordination Committee for Labor Organizations, an involvement that led to her imprisonment in 2023. In December 2023, Sharifeh was arrested in Gilan. Following her arrest, she was transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence’s prison in Sanandaj, located in the Kurdistan Province. Eventually, Sharifeh was moved to the prison in Lakanshahr, a village in Gilan Province, where she continued to face significant challenges.
During her imprisonment, Sharifeh Mohammadi endured both physical and psychological torture. Authorities placed her in solitary confinement, attempting to coerce a confession that she had been armed and actively fighting against the Islamic Republic of Iran in the previous decade. Despite the relentless torture, Sharifeh steadfastly refused to confess to crimes she did not commit. Her treatment was marked by severe restrictions; she was denied access to an independent lawyer and prohibited from contacting her family and husband. When her husband sought to assert her right to communicate with her family, he himself was arrested by representatives of the Islamic regime. After several days of detention, he was released. These actions highlight the broader issues of human rights abuses and the lack of due process within the Iranian judicial system. Sharifeh’s resilience in the face of such adversity underscores her unwavering commitment to justice and human rights, despite the severe personal costs.
The Islamic Republic claims that Sharifeh Mohammadi was involved with the Coordination Committee for Labor Organizations during the 2020s and asserts that this committee had ties to Komala, an armed Iranian Kurdish communist party. However, Sharifeh, her family, and friends have consistently denied any involvement in armed actions. Furthermore, the Coordination Committee for Labor Organizations has also refuted these claims, stating that Sharifeh’s membership was during the 2010s, not the 2020s. The committee has always maintained a strict policy of independence from both armed and non-armed political parties, emphasizing that its primary objective since its inception in 2005 has been to coordinate efforts among activists and members to defend laborers’ interests independently. This principle of independence has been a cornerstone of the committee’s mission. The allegations against Sharifeh appear to be part of a broader effort by the Islamic Republic to discredit and suppress labor activists by falsely linking them to armed insurgency, thereby justifying harsh penalties and undermining legitimate social and labor movements in Iran.
The announcement of Sharifeh Mohammadi’s unjust charges sparked widespread protests. A campaign entitled the Campaign for the Defense of Sharifeh Mohammadi was launched, drawing significant attention and support. On social media, people rallied under the hashtag #FreeSharifeh, calling for her release and defending her cause. Various unions and syndicates, including the Free Union of Iranian Workers and the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, publicly protested against the charges and voiced their support for Sharifeh.
Prominent human and civil rights activists, such as Farhad Maysami, also bravely spoke out against the injustice of her situation. In addition to online and organizational support, physical demonstrations took place; on July 5 and 6, a protest gathering was held in Stockholm by a group of Iranians opposing the charges against Sharifeh. This international show of solidarity underscores the widespread condemnation of her treatment and the growing demand for justice and human rights in Iran.
It is evident to the public that the Islamic Republic of Iran sentenced Sharifeh Mohammadi to such a severe penalty in an effort to intimidate social and political activists across the country, particularly in Gilan, a region with a high concentration of activists. The regime’s actions come in response to the increasing gatherings and growing strength of labor protests in Iran, which pose a significant threat to its authority. By targeting Sharifeh, the regime aims to instill fear among union labor activists and suppress their activities. Consequently, Sharifeh Mohammadi has become a victim of the regime’s harsh measures, embodying the broader struggle for human rights and the fight against oppression in Iran. Her plight underscores the regime’s willingness to use extreme tactics to silence dissent and maintain control.
