IRAN’S REGIME CHARGES WOMAN WITH ‘NORMALIZING SAME-SEX RELATIONS’

IRAN’S REGIME CHARGES WOMAN WITH ‘NORMALIZING SAME-SEX RELATIONS’

IRAN’S REGIME CHARGES WOMAN WITH ‘NORMALIZING SAME-SEX RELATIONS’

The Islamic Republic of Iran’s judiciary charged a female equality activist with violating its national security because she sought to “normalize same-sex relations” in a country that imposes capital punishment for homosexuality.

IRAN’S REGIME CHARGES WOMAN WITH 'NORMALIZING SAME-SEX RELATIONS'
IRAN’S REGIME CHARGES WOMAN WITH ‘NORMALIZING SAME-SEX RELATIONS’

The Iranian lesbian and transgender network group, 6rang, wrote on its website in late February that Rezvaneh Mohammadi’s charges include “collusion against national security by normalizing same-sex relations.” This is the first time that an activist faces such an accusation in Iran. She may be sentenced up to five years imprisonment.”

Volker Beck, a leading German expert and activist on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights, told The Jerusalem Post on Monday that “this case is not about homosexuality, it is about freedom.” He said the charge of “collusion against national security by normalizing same-sex relations as an accusation means that in Iran, there is no freedom of expression, no freedom of science or press or religion. This is what the Iranian theocratic regime is standing for.”

“All Muslim associations in the free world and our government should condemn this attack on human dignity by the Iranian so-called justice system,“ said Beck, who played a critical role in securing marriage rights for gays and lesbians in Germany in 2017.

US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell, who is spearheading a United States government campaign to decriminalize homosexuality across the world, helped draw attention to the case of Mohammadi. He tweeted to his 121,000 followers: “Iranian student Rezvaneh Mohammadi was charged with ‘acting against national security by normalizing homophile relationships.’”

According to 6rang, the gender equality activist Mohammadi’s “first court session was held in Tehran’s Revolutionary Court Branch 28 on February 18, 2019, presided by the notorious Judge Moghiseh. Reports indicate not only that Ms. Mohammadi’s lawyer was not given the right to defend his client, he was also refused access to the court file.”

Read More: JPost

Iran Briefing | News Press Focus on Human Rights Violation by IRGC, Iran Human Rights

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