Raheleh Ahmadi
Age: 52
Activities/Rights: Women’s rights
Status: Released
Judicial status: New case opened against her
Violations: Arbitrary arrest and detention, access to lawyer, lack of due process, unfair trial, prolonged solitary confinement, denial of medical care
Raheleh Ahmadi is a mother who demanded justice for her daughter, Saba Kordafshari and was also with Monireh Arabshahi, Yasaman Aryani and Mojgan Keshavarz as they handed out flowers and pastries to fellow passengers in a women’s only carriage on the Tehran metro on International Women’s Day 2019. Raheleh was arrested at her home on 10 July 2019 in order to pressure her daughter, Saba to make a false televised confession against herself. She was transferred to the IRGC Ward 2A in Evin Prison, where her daughter was being held. Following interrogations, she was returned to Qarchak prison on July 12 and released on a bail of 700 million tomans pending trial. On 16 December 2019, Branch 26 of Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Afshari, sentenced Raheleh to a total of four years and two months in prison; three years and six months for “assembly and collusion to act against national security through cooperation with dissident media”, and eight months for “propaganda against the system.” She was acquitted of the charge of “inciting and facilitating corruption and prostitution”. Her sentence was reduced to two years and seven months in prison for not protesting the decision. Raheleh was arrested on 15 February 2020 after attending Branch Three of the Evin Court and transferred to the Women’s Ward of Evin Prison to serve out her sentence.
Raheleh suffered from a ruptured disc from mental stress after her daughter Saba Kordafshari was separated from her and transferred to Qarchak Prison. and had to rely on a walking frame to walk. Ten months prior to her due release, on 20 November 2021, she was summoned to Branch One of Evin court for a new case that has been opened against her for charges of “propaganda against the system.” She was denied medical treatment in prison despite contracting Covid-19 and suffering from underlying illnesses. A new case was opened against her and 13 other female political prisoners for staging a protest against being handcuffed and shackled on the journey to outside medical facilities. The complaint was initiated by the Tehran Prison Authority with the charges including “disrupting public peace, assembly and collusion against national security and disobeying prison guards.” Raheleh was released from prison after completing her sentence on 13 October 2022.