Pakhshan Azizi, a dedicated humanitarian worker from Iran’s Kurdish minority, is at imminent risk of execution after being sentenced to death for her peaceful advocacy on behalf of displaced women and children in northeast Syria. Azizi’s conviction of “armed rebellion” stems from her human rights work, despite no evidence of violence or illegal activity. Following a deeply flawed trial, the Iranian Supreme Court upheld her sentence, and her lawyer has warned that she could be executed at any moment.
Azizi’s arrest and subsequent torture reveal the harsh treatment faced by many of Iran’s ethnic minorities. She was subjected to physical and psychological abuse, including gender-based violence, with her captors allegedly telling her she had “no right to live.” This disturbing pattern of abuse highlights the systemic violence that oppressed groups, including Kurds and Baluchis, face under the Iranian regime.
The timing of Azizi’s sentence is particularly alarming, coming in the wake of the “Woman Life Freedom” protests, which have sparked widespread opposition to Iran’s authoritarian rule. In response, authorities have increasingly turned to the death penalty as a tool to instill fear and suppress dissent, particularly targeting ethnic minorities like the Kurds and Baluchis.
Azizi’s case is a chilling reminder of the Iranian government’s ongoing crackdown on human rights defenders, as well as the growing use of the death penalty to silence those advocating for change. Human rights organizations and international humanitarian actors are calling for immediate action for the release and prevention of Azizi’s execution and to hold the Iranian authorities accountable for their human rights abuses.
Excerpts from Amnesty International
