{"id":81993,"date":"2025-12-23T16:10:04","date_gmt":"2025-12-23T15:10:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/?p=81993"},"modified":"2025-12-23T16:10:04","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T15:10:04","slug":"more-than-400-prominent-women-call-for-immediate-release-of-zahra-tabari","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/news\/2025\/12\/more-than-400-prominent-women-call-for-immediate-release-of-zahra-tabari\/81993\/","title":{"rendered":"More Than 400 Prominent Women Call for Immediate Release of Zahra Tabari"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Zahra — Zahra Tabari, at risk of execution in Iran, alongside more than 400 prominent women calling for her immediate release under \u201cWoman, Resistance, Freedom.\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
According to a statement published on the website of Justice for the Victims of the 1988 Massacre in Iran (JVMI)<\/strong> at https:\/\/iran1988.org<\/a><\/strong>, more than 400 prominent women worldwide have issued an urgent appeal to stop the execution of **Zahra Tabari<\/strong> in Iran.<\/p>\n**
The appeal, titled \u201cWoman, Resistance, Freedom\u201d \u2013 Appeal by 400 Prominent Women to Stop Execution of Zahra Tabari in Iran<\/strong>, was published on **23 December 2025<\/strong>.<\/p>\n**
Background of the Appeal<\/h3>\n
On 23 December 2025, London<\/strong>, the statement reported that more than 400 prominent women \u2014 including Nobel laureates, former presidents and prime ministers, parliamentarians, UN special rapporteurs, media personalities, sporting icons, and leading human rights defenders \u2014 signed a public appeal calling for the immediate release of Zahra Tabari, a women\u2019s rights champion currently on death row in Iran.<\/p>\n
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 **\u201cWoman, Resistance, Freedom.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n**
**The appeal states that on 7 July 2025,** **Iran\u2019s state media called<\/a> for a repeat of the 1988 massacre<\/a> of political prisoners, followed by a sharp increase in political executions and death sentences.<\/p>\n**
Organization Behind the Appeal<\/h3>\n
The appeal to stop Zahra Tabari\u2019s execution was organized by **J<\/strong>ustice for the Victims of the 1988 Massacre in Iran (JVMI).<\/p>\n**
According to the statement, prominent women supporting the appeal include eight former heads of state or government<\/strong>, three former justice ministers<\/strong>, and **Members of Parliament from 14 countries<\/strong>.<\/p>\n**
Text of the Appeal<\/h3>\n
The statement includes the full text of the appeal titled:<\/p>\n
\u201cWoman, Resistance, Freedom\u201d \u2013 Save Zahra Tabari from Execution in Iran<\/h4>\n
The appeal condemns the Iranian authorities\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
The appeal states that Zahra Tabari was accused of collaborating with the opposition PMOI<\/strong><\/a> and sentenced to death solely for holding a banner reading **\u201cWoman, Resistance, Freedom,\u201d<\/strong> a slogan described as having gained popularity among female political prisoners.<\/p>\n**
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.<\/p>\n
The appeal notes that Iran is currently the world\u2019s leading executioner of women per capita<\/strong> and states that Zahra Tabari\u2019s case demonstrates that holding a sign declaring women\u2019s resistance to oppression is now punishable by death in Iran.<\/p>\n
**The statement further declares that Iranian women, who initiated the** **2022 uprising<\/a>, continue to lead a nationwide resistance movement and will not be silenced.<\/p>\n**
**The appeal concludes by demanding Zahra Tabari\u2019s immediate release and calling on governments worldwide to stand with Iranian women in their pursuit of democracy, equality, and freedom.<\/p>\n**
Signatories to the Appeal<\/h3>\n
The appeal is signed by 405 women<\/strong>, 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.<\/p>\n
***(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.)<\/em><\/p>\n***
***Access to Signatories\u2019 Profiles<\/h3>\n***The statement provides a link inviting readers to **view the profiles of the signatories<\/strong> through the official** **JVMI website<\/a>.<\/p>\n**
\n
\ud83d\udea8 +400 women leaders demand a halt to execution of Zahra Tabari, sentenced to death in Iran for holding a banner reading #WomanResistanceFreedom<\/a><\/p>\n
\u201cWe demand Zahra\u2019s immediate release, and we call on governments worldwide to stand with the women of Iran.\u201d https:\/\/t.co\/lBF0a8s3gF<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/7u51oKxaKc<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/0wOL8OOeui<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 M. Hanif Jazayeri (@HanifJazayeri) December 23, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n