Pakhshan Azizi is in imminent danger of execution solely for her non-violent social workin Syrian refugee camps. On September 30, the US State Department Farsi X account posted a photo of Pakhshan Azizi on which they plastered a US flag and State Department seal, calling for Iran to revoke her death sentence and immediately release her. In response, she issued an audio statement, posted on October 4 by @BurnTheCage and with English subtitles by @iranrevolution_. Her brave and principled response stands as an example which people worldwide could and should learn from.

I, Pakhshan Azizi, a Kurdish political prisoner sentenced to death, reject the baseless accusations in my case and demand a review of the unjust death sentence. Regarding the statement of the U.S. State Department, which was apparently published in defense of my case:

I declare that if the U.S. government is truly committed to the principles of human rights, first it must stop its war-mongering, aggression, and crimes in the region, and end its open support for the genocide of the innocent people of Gaza, and end its years of sanctions that have led to relentless economic pressure on the oppressed and suffering people.

Only then we might believe that your government’s statements are issued from a stance of humanity and not otherwise.

I am an ordinary person in this community, a social worker. My field of work is people-oriented. I am not concerned with governments or their political games, nor do I want to play such a role.

The people of the Middle East have been crushed under the economic and social pressure resulting from the flawed and destructive policies of the West led by the US, centuries of colonialism and exploitation, and by regional governments.

Wishing for peace and reconciliation, justice and true dignity for all human beings.