News Center- In a post on social media platform X on Friday, Mai Sato, UN Rights Rapporteur for Iran, expressed concern at the Iranian Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the death sentence handed down to Pakhshan Azizi, a Kurdish journalist and humanitarian worker.

“Alarmed by Iran's Supreme Court upholding #DeathSentence of Kurdish activist Pakhshan Azizi. Reportedly tortured in solitary confinement, denied fair trial&legal representation. Her case reflects broader persecution of minority women activists,” her post on Friday said. 

On January 14, 2025, A group of independent human rights experts also expressed grave concern at the Iranian Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the death sentence handed down to Pakhshan Azizi.

“The charges against Ms. Pakhshan Azizi do not meet the threshold of ‘most serious crimes’ required by international law for the death penalty,” the experts said. “Her death sentence constitutes a serious violation of international human rights law.”

The experts urged Iranian authorities to immediately revoke the death sentence against Pakhshan Azizi, investigate allegations of torture and denial of fair trial rights, and put an end to the harassment and targeting of women activists in Iran.

In August 2023, Pakhshan Azizi was arrested in Tehran by Iranian Intelligence Services and held in solitary confinement in Ward 209 of Evin Prison for five months.

On July 23, 2024, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced her to death for “armed rebellion against the state (baghy)” and “membership of opposition groups”, along with a four-year prison term for alleged membership in the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK). On January 8, 2025, The Iranian Supreme Court upheld the death sentence against her.