Joint Statement: Drop All Charges Against LGBTIQ Activist Sareh and Release Her From Prison Immediately
28 July 2022
In October 2021, an LGBTIQ rights activist Zahra Sedighi-Hamadani, also known as Sareh, was arrested by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in Iran while she was attempting to cross the border to seek asylum in Turkey. She was charged with crossing the border illegally, and targeted for participating in an interview with BBC Persian and speaking up on the situation of LGBTIQ persons in Erbil, Iraq.
In a statement, the IRGC accused Sareh of: “Promoting homosexuality, gambling, fraud, and promoting illicit sexual relations and publishing them on the Internet." No evidence has been offered by the IRGC to substantiate these baseless accusations, nor has Sareh benefitted from any due process. Reports indicate that Sareh was coerced into confessing to these “crimes”, potentially through acts of torture, including solitary confinement and threats that the State will take custody of her two children.
We expressly condemn the unjust and cruel arrest and detention of Sareh by the IRGC, and equally condemns the accusations of ‘spreading corruption on earth,’ including through ‘promoting homosexuality’. We are critically aware and alarmed that these accusations can lead to a criminal conviction in Iran that could lead to capital punishment.
The risk that Sareh may be executed is real and therefore we call for all charges against Sareh to be dropped and for her immediate release from Urmia prison in Iran.
We reiterate this urgent message from 6Rang, the Iranian Lesbian and Transgender Network:
“It is clear to all of us that what has taken place is not due process, but a re-run of a show familiar to many of us who grew up in the suffocating atmosphere of the Islamic Republic. Sareh must be released immediately and unconditionally. We ask all human rights organizations and the media not to ignore Sareh’s detention, and to work for her freedom.”
In Solidarity,
6rang
75 SHOTS
All Out
Amerta Reksa Kayana
APCASO
Arus Pelangi
ASEAN SOGIE Caucus
Asia Pacific Transgender Network
Bisexual Alliance Victoria Inc
Blue Diamond Society
Cangkang Queer
Capital Punishment Justice
CIVICUS
Creme de la Creme Nigeria
Equal Asia Foundation
F2BM
Family Planning Association of Bangladesh (FPAB)
galck+
GAYa NUSANTARA Foundation
Green Papua community
GWL Maluku
GWL-INA Indonesia
HIV Justice Network
HIV Legal Network
Human Rights Campaign
ILGA Asia
ILGA World
International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF)
Inti Muda Indonesia
Journalist Association for Diversity
JTID
Karyadara
Koalisi Seni Indonesia
Kolektif Tanpa Nama
Komunitas Sehati Makassar
Leto (learning together)
LGBT social movement "REVERS"
Maleo Central Sulawesi, Indonesia
Mari Jeung Rebut Kembali
Metropolitan Community Churches, Global Justice Institute
Namibia Diverse Women's Association (NDWA)
Narasi Toleransi Indonesia
QLC
Rainbow Railroad
Sahabat SulTeng
Sexual Rights Centre
Srikandi Sejati Foundation Ijakarya Indonesia
St. Paul's Foundation for International Reconciliation
State University of Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Tarena
Tifa Foundation
Trans proud
Transmen Indonesia
Yayasan Keadilan dan Perdamaian Indonesia
Yayasan Srikandi sejati
Youth Interfaith Forum on Sexuality (YIFoS Indonesia)
For enquiries, please email:
Ryan Ong, ILGA Asia Communications Officer at ryan@ilgaasia.org
Melika Zarr, 6Rang Media And Communications Manager at miki@6rang.org
