Saba Kordafshari

Age: 28 (born July 7, 1999)

Field of Activity: Women's Rights Activist

Status: Free

Legal Status: —

Violations: Arbitrary detention, denial of access to legal counsel, denial of due process and a fair trial, prolonged solitary confinement, denial of medical care, failure to separate prisoners according to the nature of their offenses, harassment of family members, home searches and confiscation of personal belongings, judicial summons, restrictions on freedom of expression and activism against compulsory hijab.

Saba Kordafshari is a civil and women’s rights activist. First arrested on 2 August 2018, Saba was rearrested on 1 June 2019 and on 27 August 2019, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced her to 24 years imprisonment: 15 years in prison for “inciting and facilitating corruption and prostitution” through unveiling, seven and a half years for “assembly and collusion against national security”, a year and a half for “propaganda against the system” along with social restrictions. On appeal, Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals acquitted her of the “inciting and facilitating corruption and prostitution” charges. On 30 May 2020, her lawyer, Hossein Taj, tweeted that in a phone call with Saba, she had told him that the 15 year sentence, from which she was acquitted by Branch 36 of the Appeal Courts, has been altered in the written appeal judgement, meaning that her sentence has been secretly and unlawfully increased up to 24 years. Saba was transferred to Qarchak Prison on 9 December 2020. In March 2021, Saba Kordafshari was informed that her sentence had been reduced to 9 years by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals. On 28 April 2022, Saba was acquitted of the “inciting and facilitating corruption and prostitution” charges, leaving the 5 year sentence. She was transferred from Qarchak to Evin prison in July 2022. On 7 October, it was reported that by the request of the Prisons Organisation, a new case had been opened against 14 female political prisoners including Saba for refusing to be shackled and handcuffed when being transferred for court dates.

Saba went on several hunger strikes and was regularly denied medical treatment. She was released from prison after being included in the general amnesties on 9 February 2023. 

On June 24, 2026, security forces searched the family home of Saba Kordafshari and her mother, Raheleh Ahmadi, in their absence and confiscated several personal belongings and electronic devices, including a Starlink satellite internet terminal. Both women's rights activists were also summoned to the Evin Prosecutor's Office by telephone and instructed to appear on June 30, 2026.