Pakhshan Azizi and Verisheh Moradi were sentenced to six additional months in prison for “disturbing prison order” at Evin Prison. The ruling follows protests against the execution of a Kurdish political prisoner. Moradi has been on hunger strike since October 10, advocating against the death penalty. Azizi had previously received a death sentence and additional prison time linked to political charges.
In a recent ruling, Pakhshan Azizi, a Kurdish political prisoner facing death, and Verisheh Moradi from the East Kurdistan Free Women Society, received an extra six months in prison for allegedly “disturbing prison order” in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison. Their verdict came from the Second Criminal Court, decided without their presence as they boycotted the proceedings. The situation escalated after protests erupted among the political prisoners in the women’s section of Evin Prison. The unrest followed the execution of Reza Rasai, a Kurdish political prisoner, which provoked intense reactions and clashes with prison authorities. Moradi, resilient in her fight for justice, has been on an indefinite hunger strike since October 10, aligning her protest with the international observance of the World Day Against the Death Penalty. Her case has already seen two court sessions under the critical eye of Judge Salavati at Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran. Azizi, originally from Mahabad in West Azerbaijan Province, was handed a death sentence along with an additional four years in prison on July 23 for charges linked to “armed insurrection” and connections to opposition groups after a year of detention. His plight reflects a broader struggle faced by those resisting oppressive political regimes.
The situation of Kurdish political prisoners in Iran underscores a grim reality of human rights abuses within the Iranian judicial system. Evin Prison is notorious for its harsh conditions and has been the focus of numerous protests as families and rights groups demand fair treatment and justice. The Kurdish community, often marginalized, has seen an alarming rise in arrests and sentences, especially targeting those advocating for their rights. This recent case highlights ongoing tensions and deteriorating conditions for political prisoners in the country.
The sentences handed to Pakhshan Azizi and Verisheh Moradi underscore the Iranian government’s relentless crackdown on political dissent. Their refusal to engage in a courtroom that lacks fair representation speaks volumes about the dire conditions within Evin Prison. As protests surge and hunger strikes deepen, the plight of these prisoners sheds light on a broader struggle for justice among Kurdish activists in Iran, invoking a desperate call for attention and advocacy from the global community.
Original Source: kurdistanhumanrights.org
