What is zahra ahmadi?

Zahra Ahmadi (زهرا احمدی), born in 1980, is an Iranian academic and geography professor at the University of Tehran. She served as the first female head of the geography department at the University of Tehran, a position she held from 2015 until her arrest in 2019.

Ahmadi's research interests include rural geography, sustainable development, and environmental planning. Her work often focuses on the challenges faced by rural communities in Iran and strategies for promoting their well-being.

In 2019, Ahmadi was arrested and charged with spreading false information and acting against national security, allegedly for her research on land use and environmental issues. She was initially sentenced to three years in prison, but this was later reduced to a fine. Her arrest sparked condemnation from academics and human rights organizations who argued that her research was being unjustly criminalized.