HRANA – Amir Raisian, the defense attorney for Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist imprisoned in Lakan Prison of Rasht, announced that her death sentence has been commuted to 30 years in prison following an order from the head of the Judiciary.

The attorney stated that his client’s sentence has been changed from the death penalty to a first-degree imprisonment term of 30 years. He explained that this decision was made with the approval of the head of the Judiciary, effectively halting the immediate risk of execution. Raisian also emphasized that legal efforts continue to pursue a retrial or the application of Article 477 of the Criminal Procedure Code, with the goal of ultimately overturning Mohammadi’s conviction and acquitting her of the charge of baghi (armed rebellion).

Article 477 of the Criminal Procedure Code is considered a special and exceptional legal provision that allows the head of the Judiciary to order a case to be referred to the Supreme Court for retrial if a final verdict is deemed to be “in clear contradiction with Islamic law.” In practice, this article serves as one of the last legal avenues for reviewing final verdicts, particularly in political, ideological, and death penalty cases.

Earlier, in August 2024, Raisian had reported that Branch 39 of the Supreme Court had upheld Mohammadi’s death sentence.

On July 4, 2024, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht sentenced Sharifeh Mohammadi to death on the charge of baghi (armed rebellion). The issuance of her death sentence sparked widespread reactions.

Her trial session was held on June 8, 2024, in the same court branch, where she faced charges of propaganda against the regime, acting against national security, and baghi through membership in an opposition group.

Previously, in Branch 4 of the Rasht Prosecutor’s Office, presided over by Judge Rajabi, Mohammadi had been formally charged with propaganda against the regime, acting against national security, and baghi through membership in an opposition group.

Sharifeh Mohammadi was arrested on December 5, 2023, at her home by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence. On December 30, 2023, she was transferred from Lakan Prison in Rasht to Sanandaj Prison, before eventually being returned to Lakan Prison after a period of time.

A source close to her family had earlier told HRANA: “Until 2013, Sharifeh was a member of the Association of Labor Unions, which has no connection whatsoever with the Komala Party, yet she was accused of baghi due to alleged membership in that group.”