Saba Kord Afshari's 24-year prison sentence confirmed for walking without a hijab

The Supreme Court rejected the request for a retrial by the lawyers of Saba Kord Afshari, who was sentenced to 24 years in prison for protesting against the mandatory hijab.

According to HRANA News Agency, after Ms. Afshari's defense lawyers requested a retrial and reexamination of the defendant's case, Branch 28 of the Supreme Court rejected the request, thus confirming her prison sentence.

This civil activist was sentenced to 24 years in prison on three charges, and according to the Islamic Penal Code, the highest sentence issued in this case, which was 15 years in prison on charges of "corruption and prostitution," will be enforced.

Saba Kord Afshari, one of the activists of the "White Wednesdays" campaign, was arrested in Tehran in June 2019.

After some time, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced this civil activist to 15 years in prison on charges of "encouraging corruption and prostitution," seven and a half years in prison on charges of "gathering and colluding with the intention of committing a crime against national security," and one and a half years in prison on charges of "propaganda against the system."

International organizations and human rights defenders have strongly criticized the Islamic Republic's actions in suppressing opponents of compulsory hijab.

The US State Department also mentioned Saba Kord Afshari and some other activists in its latest annual report on the human rights situation in various countries around the world, published last March, and said that the Islamic Republic "kidnaps" civil society activists, keeps their families in the dark for long periods of time, and pressures them to obtain "televised confessions."

Raheleh Ahmadi, Saba Kord Afshari's mother, who supported her daughter's activities, has also been sentenced to 31 months in prison.

Ms. Ahmadi was arrested in February 2019 and transferred to Evin Prison to serve her sentence.

Source: Radio Farda