Appeal to organizations: Join our plea to Iran to release LGBTIQ+ activist
Human rights activists are urging organizations to endorse an appeal demanding that Iran drop charges against an imprisoned LGBTIQ+ activist. The activist, Sareh, a Kurdish Iraqi lesbian, is accused of “spreading corruption” and “promoting homosexuality” when she gave an interview to the BBC about the treatment of LGBTIQ+ people in Iraqi Kurdistan.
The deadline for organizational endorsements is July 26. The text of the planned July 27 appeal is HERE.
Sareh, who is well known for speaking out about LGBT issues in Iraqi Kurdistan, was arrested in Iran while trying to cross into Turkey to seek asylum, the Iranian queer organization 6Rang reported last year. Sareh reportedly has had no access to lawyers or her family since her arrest in October 2021.
6Rang and the Asian branch of ILGA (the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association) issued this request for endorsements:
Dear colleagues,
ILGA Asia and 6Rang request your endorsement for a joint statement calling for Iran to drop all charges against LGBTIQ+ activist Sareh and release her from prison immediately.
Sareh has been detained since October 2021 for giving an interview with BBC Persian on the issues of LGBTIQ+ people in Erbil, Iraq.
She faces the risk of capital punishment for the accusations of ‘spreading corruption on earth,’ including through ‘promoting homosexuality’.
Please read and sign-on to this joint statement calling for her immediate release here: https://forms.gle/xuNWEsHpwHtyb7Hk8.
The sign-on deadline is July 26th, 6PM UTC. It would be published on July 27th, 2022.
Please feel free to forward this message to potential supporters in your networks.
In solidarity,
Ryan
Ryan Ong | (he/they) | Communications Officer
ILGA Asia
