Iranian Court Overturns Death Sentence for Kurdish Activist

Iranian Court Overturns Death Sentence for Kurdish Activist

Iran’s Supreme Court has annulled the death sentence of Kurdish women’s rights activist Wrisha (Varisheh) Moradi, citing serious legal and investigative shortcomings, and has returned the case to a lower court for reconsideration, her lawyer said.

Moradi’s lawyer, Mustafa Nili, said in a statement that the Supreme Court accepted the appeal and overturned the ruling due to procedural flaws, including failures during the investigation and the court’s lack of proper notification regarding the charges used to justify the death sentence.

Case Returned to Revolutionary Court

According to Nili, the case has now been referred back to Branch 15 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court for further proceedings.

Moradi, a native of Sanandaj in Iran’s Kurdish region (Rojhelat), was arrested by security forces in August 2023. She was accused of baghi, or armed rebellion against the state, and of alleged membership in the Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK), an organization designated as illegal by Iranian authorities.

Background of the Death Sentence

In November 2024, Moradi was sentenced to death. Rights organizations reported that she was later transferred to Tehran’s Evin Prison, where she spent nearly five months in solitary confinement.

In February, 229 Iranian lawyers signed a petition calling for the annulment of her sentence and urging a fair retrial for Moradi and other political detainees.

Broader Concerns Over Detentions and Executions

Iranian authorities frequently detain Kurdish activists in connection with political activity and protests. Rights groups say many are held without due process, face arbitrary charges, and are denied adequate legal representation.

Iran’s use of capital punishment continues to draw international criticism. The country carried out 909 executions in 2024, marking a nine percent increase compared to the previous year.

Arrests intensified following the 2022 death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini, a Kurdish-Iranian woman who died in custody after being detained by morality police. Her death sparked nationwide protests under the slogan “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi” (Women, Life, Freedom).

Iran ranks second globally in known executions, and human rights organizations have repeatedly warned that the death penalty is disproportionately used against minority groups, including Kurds and Baluchis.