In Iran, two lesbian activists sentenced to death for their commitment

” I hope there will come a day when we can live freely in our country. “ These words are those of Zahra Sediqi Hamedani. The 31-year-old activist, also called Sareh, and Elham Chubdar, 24, both have they were sentenced to death by the Iranian courts. Both are activists, lesbians and committed to the rights of LGBTI + people.

They are now incarcerated in the Urmia prison. Both have been accused of “spread of corruption on earth”, “promotion of homosexuality”, “promotion of Christianity” and of “Communication with the media opposed to the Islamic Republic”. According to the NGO Hengaw, it is very likely that their rights to a defense and a fair trial were violated in the court where they were tried.

Sareh, long threatened by the authorities

A lesbian and non-gender compliant, Sareh was arrested by police in late October 2021 while trying to cross the border into Turkey.

Shortly after, in December, several of his videos were forwarded to 6Rang, a support network for LGBTI + people in Iran. Lei sareh explains why she urgently needs to flee her country and she tells of being tortured during her detention:

“I can be arrested at any time because they know everything about me. They are coming to get me, I have to leave immediately. I don’t know if I’ll get there. My life is in danger here. […] I want you to know how much the LGBTQ community is suffering and we are holding on to the end for our feelings, and that in death or freedom, we will remain true to ourselves. “

Early 2022, Amnesty International already warned of Sareh’s arrest and then recalled the risk of the activist being sentenced to the death penalty, while denouncing his conditions of arbitrary detention and the ill-treatment he suffered.

Sébastien Tüller, LGBTI + activist and NGO leader in France, summarized the situation and called for action:

Towards an international mobilization to save Zahra Sediqi Hamedani and Elham Chubdar?

The Iranian organization 6Rang calls for a mobilization to put pressure on the Iranian government. “We now urge Germany and other foreign governments to put pressure” Shadi Amin, coordinator of 6rang, told AFP.

Iran is one of about ten countries that sentence people identified as homosexuals to death. Sexual intercourse between men is punishable by flogging and the death penalty. As for sexual relations between women, death sentences are rarer but not impossible after the death penalty it may apply after the third offense.

In early 2022, two men were executed after being convicted of homosexuality.