Sareh Hamdani was arrested in October 2021 while trying to cross Iran's border with Turkey. She was then sentenced to death for the alleged crime of promoting homosexuality. After protests in Germany, she was released on bail, and was finally able to flee.

Cologne

Sareh Hamdani, an Iranian LGBTQ+ activist, encountered severe challenges in her home country due to her activism. In October 2021, while attempting to cross the border into Turkey, she was arrested by Iranian authorities. Following her arrest, Hamdani faced grave consequences as she was sentenced to death, accused of promoting homosexuality, a charge that reflects Iran's strict laws against LGBTQ+ rights.

The international response to Hamdani's sentencing was notable, with protests occurring in Germany advocating for her release. These protests played a crucial role in her situation as Hamdani was eventually released on bail. Following her release, she successfully fled to Germany, where she has since found a new life, away from the threats and persecution she faced in Iran due to her activism.



Iranian LGBTQ+ activist finds new life in Germany

Had it not been for February protests here in Cologne, Sareh Hamdani would have been put to death in her native Iran. Here in Germany, Iranians have gathered together to protest the death penalty sentence of Sareh Hamdani. Iran has so far killed more than 6,000 homosexuals. Hope is a very beautiful thing. People came here with hope and were my voice that day. Now I'm here trying to be the voice of others. It is a cycle that must continue. I use the platform that I have to be the voice of others because it is very important and effective. Sareh had never previously thought about moving to Germany, but she was forced to flee here by a government that considered her actions criminal and who continued to harass her still. They gave me 13 days to pay my bail money. If I couldn't pay, Iran's government would sell my mother's house and she would have gone to prison. Is that fear? Iran's judicial system demanded the equivalent of tens of thousands of euros for her continued freedom. Sareh was forced to ask friends and family for help. Under a strictly religious government, Iranians face many problems on a daily basis, but Sareh believes LGBT people have it worse than most. I had to get married when I was very young. It pains me to talk about that time. I was just 14 years old and became a mother at a very young age. We lived together for eight years, which was worse than the prison I was later sent to. Eventually I said to myself, why don't I get away? I was born once and I will die once. It is better to die once than dying inside every day. But living a free and normal life was out of the question in a country that considers homosexuality a treatable disease. Am I a sick person? You can't treat me with whatever pills and drugs you like. Do you think that will cure me? This is what my soul wants. My soul finds peace in loving a woman. I think those who call us sick are sick themselves. Now safe in Germany, Sareh will continue to fight not only for her own freedom, but for the rights of fellow LGBT people back home.

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