Fears grow for women’s rights activists jailed in Iran after 87 executions in one month

Fears grow for women’s rights activists jailed in Iran after 87 executions in one month | Human rights  The Guardian

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Aug 25, 2024 - 22:00
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Fears grow for women’s rights activists jailed in Iran after 87 executions in one month

There are fears for the fates of women’s rights activists imprisoned in Iran

There are fears for the fates of women’s rights activists imprisoned in Iran after a surge in executions since the election of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, in July.

Surge in Executions

  1. At least 87 people were reportedly executed in July
  2. Another 29 executed on one day this month
  3. Mass executions included Reza Rasaei, a young man sentenced to death for his participation in the Woman, Life, Freedom protests

Fear of Further Executions

Human rights organisations fear further executions in the lead-up to the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death in custody and the unprecedented nationwide protests that followed. Amini, who was 22, had been arrested for allegedly violating Iran’s strict dress code before she died in September 2022.

Political Prisoners

  • About 70 women are now reported to be held as political prisoners in Iran’s notorious Evin prison
  • Two women have been given death sentences: Pakhshan Azizi and Sharifeh Mohammadi
  • Two activists – Varisheh Moradi and Nasim Gholami Simiyari – have been given the same charges but are still awaiting their sentences

Risk of Executions

The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) said multiple female political prisoners are at risk of executions based on “sham charges”.

Family of Narges Mohammadi

The family of Narges Mohammadi, the imprisoned Nobel peace prize winner and celebrated activist, say that she was among the women at Evin prison who were reportedly injured after being beaten by guards for staging a protest in the prison yard against the execution of Rasaei.

Torture and Mock Executions

  • Azizi, a 40-year-old Kurdish women’s rights activist and social worker, was reportedly subjected to torture during interrogations, including mock executions
  • Sharifeh Mohammadi, 45, was arrested at her home in Rasht in December 2023

Repression of Female Activists

Activists warned that the repression of female activists was also evident through long-term prison sentences based on fabricated charges and forced confessions.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs Targets Indicators
SDG 5: Gender Equality Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere Indicator: Number of women imprisoned for their activism or political beliefs
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere Indicator: Number of executions and mass killings
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms Indicator: Number of human rights activists imprisoned or facing persecution

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

  • SDG 5: Gender Equality
  • SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

  • Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere
  • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere
  • Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

  • Indicator: Number of women imprisoned for their activism or political beliefs (related to Target 5.1)
  • Indicator: Number of executions and mass killings (related to Target 16.1)
  • Indicator: Number of human rights activists imprisoned or facing persecution (related to Target 16.10)

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs Targets Indicators
SDG 5: Gender Equality Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere Indicator: Number of women imprisoned for their activism or political beliefs
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere Indicator: Number of executions and mass killings
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms Indicator: Number of human rights activists imprisoned or facing persecution

Source: theguardian.com