Human rights - Amnesty: Protesters in Iran raped in custody
The human rights organization Amnesty International has accused Iranian security forces of raping demonstrators in connection with the wave of protests in autumn 2022. The sexualized violence was directed against women, men and minors with the aim of intimidating protesters, according to a report published by Amnesty on Wednesday. According to the organization, the report is based on statements from those affected, relatives, psychologists and other detainees.
The protests in Iran against the repressive government course last year plunged the country's political leadership into one of its worst crises for decades. The security forces sometimes used massive violence against the demonstrators and several hundred were killed, according to human rights activists. Thousands of protesters were arrested. In the meantime, the political and spiritual leadership in Tehran has regained its self-confidence.
In the report that has now been published, Amnesty describes some shocking details of the incidents in detention or police custody. For example, objects such as glass bottles or batons are said to have been used in some of the rapes, and in some cases there were also gang rapes. In total, the organization was able to document 45 cases of sexualized violence against protesters following arrests in various parts of the country, with rape occurring in 16 cases.
"Sexualized violence is one of the most brutal weapons in the Iranian authorities' arsenal to humiliate protesters and suppress criticism in order to stay in power at all costs," said Julia Duchrow, Secretary General of Amnesty International in Germany. So far, not a single one of the perpetrators within the secret services and security forces has been charged. The vast majority of those affected have not pressed charges because they have no trust in the justice system.
Read also:
- Year of climate records: extreme is the new normal
- Precautionary arrests show Islamist terror threat
- Numerous oil, gas and coal lobbyists at climate conference
- COP28: Emirates announce fund for climate projects
Source: www.stern.de
