An icon image of the Iranian flag
Image: dpa
The two women are accused of having “promoted” homosexuality – more precisely, “corruption on earth” is spoken of. Sexual acts between same-sex people are punishable in Iran.
ZTwo lesbian activists have been sentenced to death in Iran. The 24 and 31-year-old women were found guilty of “corruption on earth,” the Iranian judiciary said in a statement published on the Internet. This is the most serious charge in the Islamic Republic’s legal system, and is usually brought against violations of Sharia law.
The two women are currently being held in a women’s prison. According to activists, they are accused of “promoting” homosexuality. Homosexuality is forbidden in Iran. The Iranian Criminal Code expressly criminalizes same-sex sexual activity for both men and women.
“It is the first time that a woman has been sentenced to death in Iran because of her sexual orientation,” said Shadi Amin of the LGBTQ organization “6Rang” to the AFP news agency. The English abbreviation LGBTQ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer.
