Iranian LGBT+ activist Sareh arrives in a safe country following her release on bail

Iranian LGBT+ activist Sareh (Zahra Sedighi Hamedani) who was released from prison on heavy bail following the cancellation of her death sentence, arrived safely in a secure country today.

She expresses her gratitude to all LGBT+ activists who accompanied her on this difficult journey to freedom. She congratulates the LGBT+ community, activists and the global community who supported the #FreeSareh campaign.

Zahra Sedighi Hamedani, 31, also known as Sareh, was arrested by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps at the Urmia border in northwest Iran in November 2021. She had been publicly advocating for her sexual identity on social media. She was referred to the senior investigator of Branch 6 of the Urmia Public and Revolutionary Court, where she was accused of the heavy charge of “corruption on Earth,” including “promoting homosexuality,” “communicating with anti-Islamic networks,” and “promoting Christianity.”

Following an extensive campaign launched by 6rang and with the support of the Iranian and global LGBT+ community, as well as the international community, including politicians and artists, the death sentence against Sareh was overturned, and she was released on bail.

Sareh’s freedom and safety are a significant victory for the LGBT+ movement in Iran. This victory demonstrates that we should never surrender to inhumane rulings and should make every effort to resist the violation of our rights. Raising our voices loudly on a global scale and utilizing international human rights mechanisms can be advantageous in exerting pressure on the Islamic Republic to cease its crimes.

We are proud that all the efforts made by the Iranian LGBT+ community, along with the global community, have achieved the goal, and Sareh can now live in a free and democratic country with her children.