Union activist sentenced to death in Iran

Sharifeh Mohammadi, a prominent trade union activist imprisoned in Iran, has been sentenced to death for armed rebellion.

The Campaign for the Defense of Mohammadi wrote on Instagram: “This conviction is based on the pretext of Ms. Mohammadi’s membership in an independent, public and legal trade union organization ten years ago, thus demonstrating the unfounded nature of the verdict.”

The campaign's statement called the decision “absurd and baseless,” aimed at instilling fear among activists as the government continues to suppress any dissenting voices.

Mohammadi, arrested in December, is one of the latest in a series of executions aimed at crushing dissent. Last year, 834 Iranians were executed, according to the United Nations. That was a record high, 50 percent more than the year before.

At least 22 of them were womenIran is the world's leading country in executing women. The 2023 figures are the highest since 2014, according to Iran Human Rights.

The campaign called for Mohammadi's acquittal and unconditional release, saying: “This sentence is not only against Sharifeh, but constitutes a declaration of war and a death sentence against all social and civil activists.”

In January, the UN called for an end to the “horrible wave of executions” The repression is ongoing, with 67 executions in May alone.