«The sentencing of Mohammadi is part of the Iranian regime’s broader crackdown on human rights activists».
His Excellency Ahmad Sadeghi Ambassador of Iran Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran 25 Culgoa Circuit O’Malley ACT 2606 amb.office@iranembassy.org.au
7 August 2024
Your Excellency,
Labour activist Sharifeh Mohammadi
The Australian Union movement condemns the death sentence of labour activist Sharifeh Mohammadi, handed down on 4 July 2024, and the continued repression of trade unionists and labour activists in Iran. Sharifeh has been sentenced to death for her peaceful union activities, due to her membership of the ‘Coordinating Committee to Help Form Workers’ Organisations’ an independent and legitimate labour organisation a decade ago. This sentence is cruel and inhumane, and a deliberate targeting of a workers’ right activist for exercising her fundamental right to freedom of association and the right to organise. The verdict was handed down without due process or a fair trial.
Sharifeh Mohammadi was detained in December 2023 and has been subjected to harsh treatment in prison, including torture, and being kept in solitary confinement. At the time of her arrest, Mohammadi was charged with propaganda activity against the regime due to her work in a workers organisation; this charge was later upgraded to the serious charge of ‘Baghy’ – armed rebellion against the Government. The sentence is based on accusations that Mohammadi was a member of the armed Kurdistan-based Komala Party, an accusation Mohammadi and Komala have strongly denied.
The sentencing of Mohammadi is part of the Iranian regime’s broader crackdown on human rights activists. Iran ranks among the worst countries in the world for workers, according to the International Trade Union Confederation’s annual Global Rights Index. Many trade union activists are serving prison sentences for their advocacy of basic workers’ rights, and in response to the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, sparked by the extrajudicial killing of Jina Mahsa Amini in 2022, the Iranian Government killed, imprisoned, tortured and executed thousands of people. The Australian Union movement deplores the Iranian Government’s crackdown on protests of independent trade unions.
workers, and the violations of fundamental workers’ and human rights, including the outlawing of
We call on the Iranian Government to immediately:
Overturn the death sentence and quash the charges against Sharifeh Mohammadi; Immediately release Sharifeh Mohammadi and all other detained workers’ rights, human
rights and political activists;
End the repression of trade unions and cease the targeting of workers’ activists and human rights defenders in Iran and ensure they can carry out their activities free of restrictions and without fear of reprisal;
Abolish the death penalty;
Australian
Unions
News source:
Australian Council of Trade Unions(ACTU)
Date:7 August 2024
