TEHRAN, Tuesday, September 16, 2025 — A coalition of over 400 prominent women, including four Nobel laureates and former heads of state, are urgently calling for the immediate release of Iranian engineer and activist Zahra Tabari, fearing she faces imminent execution for peacefully protesting the government.
Growing Fears for Iranian Activist Facing Death Sentence
An international outcry is building over the case of Zahra Tabari, accused of “armed rebellion” after displaying a banner with a defiant message.
- Zahra Tabari, 67, was reportedly sentenced to death in October following a brief, remote trial.
- The charge stems from holding a banner reading “Woman, Resistance, Freedom,” echoing the 2022 protest slogan.
- International rights experts and former world leaders are condemning the potential execution as a violation of human rights.
The appeal alleges Tabari received a death sentence in October after what they describe as a “sham 10-minute trial” conducted remotely, denying her access to legal counsel of her choosing. This case highlights the escalating risks faced by activists in Iran, where dissent is met with increasingly harsh penalties.
What is the basis for the charges against Zahra Tabari? Tabari is accused of “baghi,” or armed rebellion, solely based on the banner she displayed and an unpublished audio message, according to a statement released Tuesday by eight independent United Nations rights experts.
The banner, “Woman, Resistance, Freedom,” is a variation of the widely used “Woman, Life, Freedom” slogan that became synonymous with the 2022 nationwide protests ignited by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in Iranian custody. The protests, a significant challenge to the ruling theocracy, were met with a violent crackdown.
Iranian state media has remained silent on Tabari’s case, offering no confirmation of the death sentence. However, the lack of transparency has fueled international concern.
The UN rights experts emphasized that international law restricts the use of the death penalty to the “most serious crimes,” and Tabari’s case does not meet that threshold. They argue the execution would be “arbitrary” given the procedural violations.
The joint appeal, signed by the former presidents of Switzerland and Ecuador, along with former prime ministers from Finland, Peru, Poland, and Ukraine, underscores the “terror” faced by women in Iran for decades. The country is currently identified as “the world’s number one executioner of women per capita,” according to the Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) organization, which reports over 40 women have been executed in Iran this year alone.
“In Iran, daring to hold a sign declaring women’s resistance to oppression is now punishable by death,” the letter stated, also bearing the signatures of US Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace, judges, and diplomats.
The activists are demanding Tabari’s immediate release and urging governments worldwide to support Iranian women in their pursuit of democracy, equality, and freedom. The appeal further alleges Tabari is accused of collaborating with the People’s Mujahedin (PMOI), also known as MEK, an opposition group banned in Iran.
According to PMOI, Tabari is one of 18 activists currently facing death row in Iran due to their affiliation with the organization.