Additional Name(s): Saba Kurd Afshari, صبا کردافشاری
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Unspecified
Health Concerns: Ulcers, gastrorrhagia, contracted COVID-19
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes
Appeal: 7 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: June//2019
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Appearance Resisting State-Imposed Religious Systems Women’s Rights
Nature of Charges: Illegal Assembly Immorality Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials
Saba Kord Afshari was imprisoned for her women’s rights activism against compulsory religious veiling.
In June 2019, authorities arrested Afshari for protesting compulsory hijab after a video of her surfaced walking on the street without a hijab.
In the second half of 2019, a Tehran Revolutionary Court reportedly sentenced Afshari to 15 years in prison for “encouraging people to immorality or prostitution” (Art. 639 IPC), seven years and six months for “assembling and colluding to act against national security” (Art. 610 IPC), and one year and six months for “propaganda against the state” (Art. 500 IPC). Afshari was expected to serve 15 years in prison as the sentences ran concurrently.
In late 2019, an appeals court reportedly acquitted Afshari of “encouraging people to immorality or prostitution” (Art. 639 IPC). Her sentence was furthermore reduced to seven years and six months in prison.
In May 2020, it was reported that Afshari’s acquittal for “encouraging people to immorality or prostitution” (Art. 639 IPC) was overturned. The court subsequently enforced the original 15-year sentence.
In March 2021, it was reported that Afshari’s sentence had been reduce to seven years and six months in prison.
Afshari reportedly suffers from ulcers and gastrorrhagia and has been denied adequate medical care. She has also reportedly contracted COVID-19 while imprisoned. Afshari has also gone on hunger strike to protest the arrest of her mother, Rahele Ahmadi.
Afshari has also been subjected to attacks in prison and inhumane living conditions.
In April 2022, it was reported that the Supreme Court acquitted Afshari of “encouraging people to immorality or prostitution” (Art. 639 IPC) and that her sentence was reduced to five years in prison after her sentence was corrected.
In February 2023, it was reported that Afshari had been released from prison.
Photo attributed to Voice of America (VOA)
"Iran Releases 7 Women Activists from Prison, Reports Say" Voice of America (VOA)
USCIRF Country Update: Religious Freedom in Iran in 2022 July 2022
USCIRF Spotlight Podcast: Religious Prisoners of Conscience in Iran June 2022
“Saba Kurd Afshari” United for Iran
"Prison Sentence of Saba Kord Afshari Reduced to Five Years" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
“Imprisoned Civil Activist Saba Kord Afshari Attacked in Qarchak Prison” Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
“Jailed activist deprived of leave for protesting prison conditions” Iran Human Rights Monitor
“Jailed Iranian Anti-Hijab Campaigner Goes On Hunger Strike” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
“Who is Saba Kord Afshari, the Activist Sentenced to 24 Years in Prison?” Iran Wire
“Source: Jailed Iranian Anti-Compulsory Hijab Activist Beaten, Dragged to Common Criminals’ Ward” Voice of America (VOA)
“Mother of Jailed Anti-Compulsory Hijab Activist Calls for Legal Reform” Center for Human Rights in Iran
“Iran: Activist Sentenced To 24 Years In Prison: Saba Kordafshari” Amnesty International
Additional Name(s): Yasaman Ariyani, یاسمن آریانی
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Unspecified/Other
Health Concerns: Contracted COVID-19
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes
Appeal: Reduced to 5 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: April//2019
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Appearance Resisting State-Imposed Religious Systems Women’s Rights
Nature of Charges: Illegal Assembly Immorality Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials
Yasaman Ariani was imprisoned for her women’s rights activism against compulsory religious veiling.
In April 2019, authorities arrested Ariani for protesting compulsory hijab after she was caught on video handing out flowers on the metro while not wearing a hijab.
In July 2019, a Tehran court sentenced Ariani to one year in prison for “propaganda against the state” (Art. 500 IPC), five years in prison for “assembling and colluding to act against national security” (Art. 610 IPC), and ten years in prison for “encouraging people to immorality or prostitution” (Art. 639 IPC).
In February 2020, an appeals court reportedly resentenced Ariani to seven months in prison for “propaganda against the state” (Art. 500 IPC), three years and six months in prison for “assembling and colluding to act against national security” (Art. 610 IPC), and five years and six months in prison for “encouraging people to immorality or prostitution” (Art. 639 IPC). Ariani is expected to serve five years and six months in prison as the sentences run concurrently.
In November 2020, Ariani reportedly contracted COVID-19.
In July 2021, Ariani was granted a short leave from prison. She returned to prison afterwards.
On February 15, 2023, it was reported that Ariani had been released from prison.
Ariani had been subjected to attacks by fellow inmates on multiple occasions while imprisoned.
HRANA English, Tweet, February 15, 2023
USCIRF Country Update: Religious Freedom in Iran in 2022 July 2022
USCIRF Spotlight Podcast: Religious Prisoners of Conscience in Iran June 2022
“Yasaman Ariani” United for Iran
“یاسمن آریانی، زندانی مدنی به مرخصی کوتاهمدت آمد” Voice of America (VOA)
“Female civil rights activist beaten by common criminals in prison” Iran Human Rights Monitor
“Iran Court Upholds Long Prison Sentences Of Anti-Hijab Women Activists” Radio Farda
“Iran: Release women’s rights defenders detained for peacefully protesting against forced veiling” Amnesty International
“Iranian Women Rebel Against Dress Code” Human Rights Watch
Additional Name(s): Raheleh Ahmadi, راحله احمدی
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Unspecified/Other
Health Concerns: Low functioning thyroid, contracted COVID-19, suffered a nervous breakdown and other ailments
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes
Sentence: 2 Years, 7 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: February//2020
Date of Sentencing: December/16/2019
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Appearance Resisting State-Imposed Religious Systems Women’s Rights
Nature of Charges: Illegal Assembly Immorality Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials
Rahele Ahmadi was imprisoned for her women’s rights activism against compulsory religious veiling.
On July 10, 2019, authorities arrested Ahmadi, an activist against compulsory hijab, after she criticized the arrest and treatment of her daughter, Saba Kord Afshari, who was arrested in relation to her removal of her hijab in public and women’s rights and anti-compulsory hijab activism.
On July 14, 2019, Ahmadi was released on bail.
On December 16, 2019, Branch 26 of Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Ahmadi to four years and two months in prison for “propaganda against the state” (Art. 500 IPC) and “assembling and colluding to act against national security” (Art. 610 IPC). The court did, however, acquit her of “encouraging people to immorality or prostitution” (Art. 639 IPC).
On an unspecified date, Amadi's sentence was reduced to two years and seven months.
In February 2020, Ahmadi was taken into custody to begin serving her sentence in Evin Prison.
In March 2021, Ahmadi was granted a short medical leave.
In July 2021, Ahmadi was granted a short furlough to attend her mother’s funeral.
In November 2021, Ahmadi was summoned to court on a new charge of “propaganda against the state” (Art. 500 IPC) reportedly in relation to statements she made while in detention that were being circulated online.
In February 2022, Ahmadi was granted a short medical furlough after she contracted COVID-19 in prison.
Ahmadi was repeatedly denied adequate access to legal counsel, with her lawyer being detained for four months at the end of 2021.
Ahmadi’s health reportedly deteriorated while in prison. In December 2020, she suffered a nervous breakdown, resulting in a loss of mobility in her left leg. She has also contracted COVID-19, suffered from various other ailments, and suffers from a low functioning thyroid.
On October 13, 2022, Ahmadi was released from prison.
Iran International English, Tweet, October 13, 2022
USCIRF Country Update: Religious Freedom in Iran in 2022 July 2022
USCIRF Spotlight Podcast: Religious Prisoners of Conscience in Iran June 2022
“Raheleh Ahmadi” United for Iran
“Civil Activist Raheleh Ahmadi Granted Furlough After Contracting COVID-19” Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
“Woman Human Rights Defender Raheleh Ahmadi Refused to Appear Before the Court without her Lawyer” Front Line Defenders
“در پی درگذشت مادر؛ راحله احمدی به مرخصی کوتاه مدت اعزام شد” Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
“Source: Iran Denies Humanitarian Measures to Mother, Daughter Jailed for Protesting Compulsory Hijabs” Voice of America (VOA)
“Mother of Jailed Anti-Compulsory Hijab Activist Calls for Legal Reform” Center for Human Rights in Iran