Additional Name(s): سارا احمدی
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: Iran
Ethnic Group: Fars
Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Reduced to 8 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: August/13/2022
Date of Sentencing: December//2020
Date of Release: May//2023
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Practicing Religion as a Convert Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization
Sara Ahmadi was imprisoned for practicing her religion as a convert.
In June 2019, authorities arrested Ahmadi and her husband, Homayoun Zhaveh, as they were on vacation with some friends. Ahmadi wife was accused of leading a house-church, and her husband was accused of being a member of it. Ahmadi reportedly spent over a month in solitary confinement while detained.
On an unspecified day in 2019, Ahmadi was released on bail.
In November 2020, Ahmadi was sentenced to eight years in prison for "founding or leading an organization that aims to disrupt national security" (Art. 498 IPC) and three years for "membership in organizations that aim to disrupt national security" (Art. 499 IPC).
In December 2020, Ahmadi's sentence was reportedly reduced to eight years in prison.
In June 2021, Ahmadi was informed that the Supreme Court had rejected her appeal for retrial.
On August 13, 2022, authorities detained Ahmadi after and sent her to Evin prison, possibly to begin serving her sentence.
In May 2023, it was reported that both Ahmadi and her husband were acquitted and released from their combined ten-year prison sentence.
Related Cases: Homayoun Zhaveh
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