According to reports, the death sentence of Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor rights activist and political prisoner, has been upheld by Branch 39 of Iran’s Supreme Court. This decision comes despite the fact that the same branch had previously overturned the ruling due to multiple legal flaws.
Confirming the news, Mohammadi’s lawyer, Amir Raeesian, stated:
“The Supreme Court, despite serious unresolved ambiguities—including the lack of evidence linking my client to any armed operations, the failure to prove membership in an insurgent group, and clear deficiencies in the security agency’s report—has this time upheld the death sentence.”
Raeesian explained that after the initial ruling was overturned, the case was referred to Branch Two of the Revolutionary Court in Rasht, which once again issued a death sentence based solely on intelligence agency reports, without addressing the previously identified legal shortcomings.
“We expected the Supreme Court to annul the verdict once more,” he said, “but unfortunately that did not happen. Nevertheless, we remain hopeful that the sentence will be overturned during a retrial process.”
Sharifeh Mohammadi was arrested on December 5, 2023, by intelligence agents at her home. She was first held in Lakan Prison in Rasht, then transferred to Sanandaj Prison on December 30, before being returned to Rasht after several weeks.
Her trial was held in June 2024 at Branch Two of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht on charges of “propaganda against the state, acting against national security, and rebellion (baghi) through membership in an opposition party.” On July 4, 2024, Branch One of the same court sentenced her to death on the charge of “baghi.”
Mohammadi is a former member of the Committee to Help Form Workers’ Organizations, which has no affiliation with the Komala Party. Despite this, the judiciary accused her of membership in Komala and sentenced her to death on that basis.
Human rights organizations have condemned her prosecution, stressing that her trial was marred by serious due process violations and politically motivated charges.