Iran sentences two gay rights activists to death

Two LGBTQ activists were given the death penalty by the Islamic Republic of Iran for allegedly endorsing homosexuality, the human rights group Hengaw announced on Sunday.

Zahra Sediqi Hamedani, also known as “Sareh,” 31, of Naqadeh, and Elham Chubdar, 24, of Urmia, both LGBT activists, were both sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court of Urmia in a joint case on the charge of “Corruption on Earth” through the promotion of homosexuality, according to Hengaw, an organization that records human rights violations in Kurdistan.

The sentence “has been announced to them in the previous few days in the women’s wing of Urmia Central Prison,” the Hengaw Human Rights Organization continued.

Iran’s West Azerbaijan Province contains the city of Urmia.

The independent Iranian news Twitter feed 1500tasvir also reported the sentencing, writing on Sunday that “Homosexual rights activists #Zahra_Seddighi (31) and #Elham Choobdar (24) have been sentenced to death.”

Iran’s regime has executed between 4,000 and 6,000 gays and lesbians since the nation’s Islamic revolution in 1979, according to a 2008 British Wikipedia cable.

Hengaw noted in its report that “Zahra Sediqi Hamadani was deprived of the right to access a lawyer during her detention, and the security agents threatened her with her execution and deprivation of custody of her two children besides verbal harassment and insults to her identity and appearance.”

The two ladies were found guilty of “promoting homosexuality,” “promoting Christianity,” and “communicating with the media against the Islamic Republic,” according to Hengaw.

“Zahra Sediqi Hamedani and Elham Chubdar are both suspected of being LGBTQ+ activists and have been condemned to death on the charge of ‘Corruption on Earth’ through the promotion of homosexuality,” British human rights activist and LGBTQ+ activist Peter Tatchell told The Post on Sunday.

This extremely serious broad-brush accusation is frequently used at opponents of the government and anyone who voice viewpoints that depart from accepted Islamic doctrine.

Usually, it leads to execution.

“Zahra reportedly had no access to a lawyer during her 10 months detention. Iran is notorious for unfair trials and this is very likely the case with these two women.”

In order to enhance the victim’s misery, he continued, “They will probably be hanged utilizing the brutal long, slow strangulation method; much preferred by the Iranian dictatorship.”

Source: Ghanatodayonline.com