Extra Bio Info:

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.

Extra Bio Info:

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.

Extra Bio Info:

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.