Pakhshan Azizi, a political prisoner sentenced to death, has been denied visits with her lawyers and family in Evin Prison.
According to the Campaign for the Defense of Political and Civil Prisoners, Pakhshan Azizi has been banned from meeting her lawyers and indefinitely from visiting her family by order of the prosecutor’s office.
A source close to Azizi’s family reported that on Saturday, two of her lawyers went to Evin Prison, but were prevented from meeting her due to the prosecutor’s directive. This order was communicated to the lawyers by Neyeri, the supervising magistrate.
The source also mentioned that in addition to the main case leading to her death sentence, which is under review by the Supreme Court, Pakhshan Azizi is facing two new charges. These stem from her protest against the introduction of ballot boxes into the women’s ward of Evin during election day and her objection to the execution of Reza Rasai and other death sentences.
Pakhshan Azizi was arrested by security forces in Tehran on August 4, 2023, and after four months of interrogation, she was transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Her trial took place on May 28, 2024, in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, where she was sentenced to death on the charge of rebellion.
In early August 2024, Aziz Azizi, Porshang Azizi, and Hossein Abbasi, who were jointly charged with Pakhshan Azizi, were each sentenced to one year in prison. Their sentences were confirmed by the Tehran Court of Appeals on September 26, 2024.
Pakhshan Azizi, originally from Mahabad, has a history of previous arrests. In 2009, she was detained for her political activities and was released after four months on bail.