Mai Sato highlights the case of Sharifeh Mohammadi as evidence of the urgent need to abolish the death penalty in Iran

The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, Ms. Mai Sato, has condemned the Iranian Supreme Court’s confirmation of the death sentence for imprisoned labor activist Sharifeh Mohammadi, describing the case as a clear example of the urgent need to abolish the death penalty.

On Monday, August 18, Sato wrote on the social network X that although Branch 39 of the Supreme Court had previously overturned Mohammadi’s death sentence on grounds of serious legal and procedural flaws, the same court has now upheld the execution ruling.

Flawed Charges and Due Process Violations

According to Sato, Mohammadi’s conviction is based on the charge of “rebellion” and allegations of ties to an “armed group.” Authorities claim that the Coordination Committee for Helping to Create Labor Organizations, a group Mohammadi was once associated with, had links to the Komala Party—an opposition party labeled as “armed and rebellious” by the Iranian government.

However, Mohammadi has consistently denied any connection to Komala, and the Supreme Court itself had previously expressed doubts about the lower court’s claims.

Sato also highlighted reports of severe due process violations in Mohammadi’s case, including torture, denial of access to a lawyer of her choice during interrogations, and five months of solitary confinement.

Death Penalty Misused Under National Security Charges

The UN Special Rapporteur stressed that international human rights law prohibits the use of the death penalty for so-called national security crimes, including charges such as “rebellion.” She noted that under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), executions are restricted to “the most serious crimes”—specifically the intentional taking of life.

Sato emphasized that because of the irreversible nature of capital punishment, the highest possible legal standards must be applied.

“When the Supreme Court of Iran itself has previously found serious flaws in an execution case, upholding the same flawed conviction raises grave concerns about the risk of unjust execution,” she wrote.

Dozens at Risk of Execution

The Special Rapporteur concluded that Mohammadi’s case demonstrates the urgent need for Iran to abolish the death penalty altogether. She noted that currently around 70 political prisoners across Iran—including Sharifeh Mohammadi, Varisheh Moradi, and Pakhshan Azizi—are at imminent risk of execution or confirmation of their death sentences on politically motivated charges.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court’s decision underscores the increasing use of capital punishment in Iran as a tool of political repression. As international concern grows, Sato’s warning highlights the urgent need for global pressure to halt unjust executions and to push for the abolition of the death penalty in Iran.

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