National volleyball player Zahra Nejati Aref, a member of Iran’s sitting volleyball team, has decided to auction a ring she received from the Supreme Leader to raise funds for the release of incarcerated fathers.
Zahra Nejati Aref’s Athletic Journey
Zahra Nejati Aref shared her long-standing career in sitting volleyball: “I have been professionally active in this sport for nearly 15 years. With the national team, I earned a silver medal in three editions of the Para-Asian Games. In the most recent edition, held in Hangzhou in 2022, I won silver and had the honor of meeting the Supreme Leader along with my teammates.”
The Gift from the Supreme Leader
Nejati Aref recalled the moment she learned about the gifts from the Supreme Leader: “I had the privilege of meeting him several times before, but I was especially happy when I found out that he would be gifting rings and shawls to athletes as souvenirs.”
The Decision to Auction the Ring
She explained the reasoning behind her decision to auction the gift: “Seeing news about individuals imprisoned for minor offenses, separated from their families, deeply affected me. Although the ring is extremely valuable to me, I wanted to auction it to take a small step toward helping free some of these prisoners.”
Aiming to Free Incarcerated Fathers
Nejati Aref emphasized that this initiative aims to assist those imprisoned for non-violent and financial crimes: “Due to my participation in national team camps and competitions, this initiative was delayed. However, during a recent event for athletes in my hometown of Hamedan, I handed over the ring to the governor’s office. It will be auctioned off in conjunction with the birth of Imam Ali (PBUH) and Father’s Day. The funds raised will help free fathers who are incarcerated and reunite them with their families.”
From: alef