Zahra Shahbaz Tabari, a 67-year-old retired electrical engineer from Rasht, Iran, has become a symbol of quiet defiance and extraordinary courage. A highly educated woman who spent her career in sustainable energy, Zahra was arrested in 2025 for her association with the democratic opposition and her advocacy for women’s rights.
She was sentenced to death after a ten-minute video hearing — a sham trial held without a lawyer — for the alleged “crime” of possessing a small banner that read “Woman, Resistance, Freedom.” Despite her age and the threat of execution, Zahra has remained unafraid, saying she is proud to stand for truth and justice.
Her calm bravery in the face of tyranny has touched hearts across Iran and beyond, making her one of the most powerful voices of conscience in the struggle for freedom