Kameel Ahmady Sentenced To (More Than) 8 Years In Prison

My friend and colleague, the British-Iranian anthropologist Kameel Ahmady, was yesterday sentenced by a Tehran court to (more than) 8 years in prison in Iran.

Kameel’s research is on topics such as female genital mutilation, child marriage and informal / ‘white’ marriage,

Below is a statement released today:

MEDIA RELEASE

Sunday 13 December 2020

British-Iran Anthropologist and Researcher Sentenced to 8 years by Court in Tehran

The British-Iranian anthropologist, social researcher and author Kameel Ahmady has been sentenced to 9 years in prison on the charge by a Tehran court of ‘collaborating with a hostile state’.

Amir Raesian, Kameel Ahmady’s lawyer, says

Yesterday my client, Mr. Kameel Ahmady, a researcher and anthropologist, was sentenced to more than eight years in prison by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran on charges of “collaborating with a hostile government.” We will appeal this ruling and we still hope …

Kameel Ahmady added

In Autumn 2019, contrary to all legal strictures and hope of fair judgement, I was subjected to 100 days of detention and extrajudicial interrogation without access to a lawyer.

The judgement now handed down by Judge Salavati was issued after two non-expert court hearings in a legal process full of flaws. 

The legal focus of the accusation goes back to my research on the most harmful traditions about children in disadvantaged minority areas of Iran, but the main intention of my accusers has been to link my research to the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, and to stop my activities with the target community of my research.

Now, with all that remains of my strength, I will appeal this verdict and hope for a fair trial in the appeal court

~.~.~.~.~

3 February 2021: Kameel Ahmady writes:
The main parts of my verdict and summary of my defence can be accessed on my website through the links at the end of this statement. I decided to  make these public in order for people to know how and why I was sentenced,  accusations I have countered with real evidence that I believe will prove my innocence. Let them be recorded in history, which is the best judge.

Farsi version of these Statements, on Kameel’s website

See also: