Amnesty International: Saba Kord Afshari's continued imprisonment is a "cruel act by the Iranian authorities" and she must be released immediately

After the Iranian judiciary confirmed Saba Kord Afshari's 24-year prison sentence and rejected the request for a retrial for this women's rights activist and opponent of compulsory hijab, Amnesty International called for her immediate release.

On Thursday, November 12, Amnesty International described the continued imprisonment of Saba Kord Afshari on its Twitter page as "unjust" and a "cruel act" by the Iranian authorities, writing: "She has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for protesting the humiliating and discriminatory law on compulsory hijab, and the Supreme Court has refused to grant her a retrial."

The human rights organization further emphasized that "he must be released immediately."

Previously, a source close to Saba Kord Afshari's family, who did not want to be named for security reasons, told VOA that the request for a retrial of the imprisoned civil activist, which was submitted to the Supreme Court by the case's lawyer in early October of this year, was rejected by Branch 28 of the Supreme Court, and her 24-year prison sentence was notified to Saba Kord Afshari's lawyer on Wednesday, November 4.

Based on the verdict, Saba Kord Afshari has been sentenced to 24 years in prison, of which 15 years will be served as the maximum sentence, pursuant to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.

Raheleh Ahmadi, the mother of Ms. Korda Afshari, has been arrested after she announced last July that her daughter was being pressured into making a forced confession and giving a television interview.

International human rights organizations and the United States government have repeatedly accused the Islamic Republic of violating freedom of expression and suppressing civil activists, including women's rights activists, and have called for the release of prisoners who were imprisoned solely for demanding their rights.

Source: Voice of America