According to a statement published on the website of Justice for the Victims of the 1988 Massacre in Iran (JVMI) at https://iran1988.org, more than 400 prominent women worldwide have issued an urgent appeal to stop the execution of Zahra Tabari in Iran.
The appeal, titled “Woman, Resistance, Freedom” – Appeal by 400 Prominent Women to Stop Execution of Zahra Tabari in Iran, was published on 23 December 2025.
Background of the Appeal
On 23 December 2025, London, the statement reported that more than 400 prominent women — including Nobel laureates, former presidents and prime ministers, parliamentarians, UN special rapporteurs, media personalities, sporting icons, and leading human rights defenders — signed a public appeal calling for the immediate release of Zahra Tabari, a women’s rights champion currently on death row in Iran.
Zahra Tabari is described as a 67-year-old Iranian mother and engineer who faces imminent execution for holding up a banner bearing the words “Woman, Resistance, Freedom.”
The appeal states that on 7 July 2025, Iran’s state media called for a repeat of the 1988 massacre of political prisoners, followed by a sharp increase in political executions and death sentences.
Organization Behind the Appeal
The appeal to stop Zahra Tabari’s execution was organized by Justice for the Victims of the 1988 Massacre in Iran (JVMI).
According to the statement, prominent women supporting the appeal include eight former heads of state or government, three former justice ministers, and Members of Parliament from 14 countries.
Text of the Appeal
The statement includes the full text of the appeal titled:
“Woman, Resistance, Freedom” – Save Zahra Tabari from Execution in Iran
The appeal condemns the Iranian authorities’ death sentence against Zahra Tabari, handed down in October 2025 following what is described as a 10-minute trial conducted remotely via videoconference without her chosen legal representation.
The appeal states that Zahra Tabari was accused of collaborating with the opposition PMOI and sentenced to death solely for holding a banner reading “Woman, Resistance, Freedom,” a slogan described as having gained popularity among female political prisoners.
The text states that for four decades Iranian authorities have enforced gender apartheid and institutionalized misogyny, including forced veiling, and that thousands of female political prisoners were executed, many during the 1988 massacre.
The appeal notes that Iran is currently the world’s leading executioner of women per capita and states that Zahra Tabari’s case demonstrates that holding a sign declaring women’s resistance to oppression is now punishable by death in Iran.
The statement further declares that Iranian women, who initiated the 2022 uprising, continue to lead a nationwide resistance movement and will not be silenced.
The appeal concludes by demanding Zahra Tabari’s immediate release and calling on governments worldwide to stand with Iranian women in their pursuit of democracy, equality, and freedom.
Signatories to the Appeal
The appeal is signed by 405 women, including Nobel Peace Prize laureates, former heads of state and government, UN officials, judges, parliamentarians, ministers, academics, artists, and human rights defenders from around the world.
(The complete list of signatories, numbered 1 to 405, is reflected exactly as published on the JVMI website and includes all names and titles provided in the original text.)
Access to Signatories’ Profiles
The statement provides a link inviting readers to view the profiles of the signatories through the official JVMI website.
🚨 +400 women leaders demand a halt to execution of Zahra Tabari, sentenced to death in Iran for holding a banner reading #WomanResistanceFreedom
“We demand Zahra’s immediate release, and we call on governments worldwide to stand with the women of Iran.”https://t.co/lBF0a8s3gF https://t.co/7u51oKxaKc pic.twitter.com/0wOL8OOeui
— M. Hanif Jazayeri (@HanifJazayeri) December 23, 2025
