Rahele Ahmadi

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.