Iran Sentences 2 Women LGBTQ+ Activists to Death
Iran has sentenced two women LGBTQ+ rights activists to death over what authorities say are charges related to human trafficking.The country’s official IRNA news agency reported the news Monday.
Since the news broke, many online have condemned the decision.Iranian authorities say the women, Zahra Sedighi Hamedani, 31, and Elham Chobdar, 24, have been accused of “corruption on earth,” according to media reports.The charge usually is used for those who have gone against Iran’s government, according to the Associated Press.
Authorities said the two had “misused” young women and girls and referenced human trafficking.The AP reports that the two women have been identified, however, as LGBTQ+ activists.A court in Uremia, Iran — about 370 miles from Tehran — gave the judgment.
The two are still able to appeal.Sedighi Hamedani, who also goes by Sareh and also is gender non-conforming, was arrested in October by Iranian authorities after she attempted to flee to Turkey.
