US State Department protests verdict against Saba Kord Afshari
The US State Department has reacted to the 24-year prison sentence handed down to Saba Kord Afshari, condemning it and calling it “unjust.” Kord Afshari is 20 years old, a civil rights activist and one of the protesters against compulsory hijab.
Morgan Ortagus, a spokesperson for the US State Department, wrote on Twitter on August 29, referring to the 24-year prison sentence for Saba Kord Afshari: “The Iranian Revolutionary Court has sentenced this 20-year-old woman to 24 years in prison for protesting the mandatory hijab in Iran. We condemn this unjust sentence and call on the Iranian regime to respect the universal rights of its citizens to freedom of expression.”
Saba Kord Afshari has been sentenced to 24 years in prison. The sentence for this civil activist, who is already serving time in Evin Prison, was announced to her lawyer, Hossein Taj, on September 25. The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Ms. Kord Afshari to a total of 24 years in prison, 15 of which will be enforced.
The charges on which Saba Kord Afshari was sentenced include "spreading corruption and prostitution by uncovering the hijab and walking without it," "gathering and colluding with the intent to commit a crime against national security," and "propaganda activity against the regime."
According to the Iranian Human Rights Organization, citing Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe punishment, 15 years in prison, will be applicable to her for the charge of "spreading prostitution by uncovering the hijab and walking without the hijab."
Hossein Taj tweeted on Tuesday (September 25) that he plans to appeal the verdict. Saba Kord Afshari's lawyer wrote that he hopes the verdict against his client will be overturned.
Saba Kord Afshari was arrested at her father's house on Saturday, June 1, and transferred to the Vazra Detention Center. According to the website of the Iranian Human Rights Organization, after 11 days of interrogation and pressure to make a televised confession, she was transferred to Qarchak Prison in Varamin on Tuesday, June 11, and has been denied the right to a lawyer and legal advice.
The Iranian Human Rights Organization writes that the initial explanation of her charges included references to “propaganda activities through contact with Masih Alinejad and the HRANA news agency.” Human rights issues of anonymous political prisoners, religious minorities, and women were the focus of Saba Kord Afshari’s activities before her arrest.
Source: DW
