By Diana Crucitti
Breaking the silence: A call for justice and solidarity for Iranian Woman
On International Women's Day on the 8th of March, it is imperative to bring attention to the ongoing struggles faced by women and girls in Iran. Amnesty International's recent reports present a horrifying picture of the human rights abuses committed against Iranian women, emphasising the critical need for action and solidarity.
Persistent Human Rights Violations: A year after the “Woman Life Freedom” uprising
In September 2023, Iran marked the first anniversary of the "Woman Life Freedom" uprising. Through the year, Amnesty International collected proof of crimes carried out by Iranian authorities. These include acts of torture, such as the rape of prisoners, arbitrary executions, tens of thousands of arbitrary arrests, and hundreds of unlawful killings.
According to official announcements, since April 15, 2023, over a million women have received text messages alerting them to the possibility of their vehicles being seized after being photographed without headscarves. Innumerable women have also experienced banking service denials, expulsion or suspension from universities, and restrictions on their ability to take final exams. The harsher crackdown highlights the fallaciousness of the Iranian government's earlier claims that the "morality" police were abolished, despite conflicting announcements about their resuscitation on Iranian soil.
On May 21, 2023, judicial and executive authorities presented the "Bill to Support the Culture of Chastity and Hijab" to parliament to further codify and intensify this crackdown. The proposed legislation will subject women and girls to a plethora of penalties that will severely impact their human rights, as well as social and economic rights, if they appear in public spaces and on social media without headscarves, or if they show "the nakedness of a body part or wear thin or tight clothes."
On July 16, Saeed Montazer-Almahdi, the Iranian police spokesperson, threatened legal action against women and girls who refused to wear the veil and announced the return of police patrols to enforce the requirement. This was in line with videos that went viral on social media showing women being brutally attacked by Tehrani and Rashti officials, as well as security forces shooting tear gas at individuals assisting women in Rasht who were trying to flee arrest.
Weaponizing Sexual Violence
Iran's security forces intimidated and punished peaceful protesters during the 2022 "Woman Life Freedom" uprising by using rape and other sexual violence, which amounted to torture and other cruel treatment.
The terrifying experiences of 45 survivors, 26 men, 12 women, and 7 children, who were subjected to rape, gang rape, and/or other forms of sexual violence by intelligence and security forces after their arbitrary arrest for challenging decades of oppression and entrenched gender-based discrimination—are detailed in the amnesty international report "They violently raped me": Sexual violence weaponized to crush Iran's "Woman Life Freedom" uprising. Regarding the rape and other sexual violence incidents listed in the report, the Iranian authorities have not yet filed charges against or brought legal action against any officials.
According to the report, those who committed rape and other sexual assaults included members of the Ministry of Intelligence, the Revolutionary Guards, the paramilitary Basij force, and various police units, such as the Public Security Police (police amniat-e omoumi), the Iran Police Investigation Unit (agahi), and the Special Forces of the police (yegan-e vijeh). Men and boys were raped anally by state agents, while women and girls were raped vaginally, anally, and orally. Glass bottles, hosepipes, wooden and metal batons, and/or the fingers and sexual organs of the agents were used to rape survivors. Rape occurred in jails, police cars, illegally converted residential buildings into detention centers, and schools.
Farzad, who was gang raped in a van belonging to the Special Forces of the police told Amnesty International: “Plainclothes agents made us face the walls of the vehicle and gave electric shocks to our legs…They tortured me through beatings … resulting in my nose and teeth being broken. They pulled down my trousers and raped me…I was really being ripped apart…I was throwing up a lot and bleeding from my rectum.”
Maryam, who was sexually assaulted in a Revolutionary Guards detention centre, recounted that her rapists told her: “You are all addicted to penis, so we showed you a good time. Isn’t this what you seek from liberation?”
Sahar, a protester, described the horrific effects of being sexually assaulted by security personnel who took off all her clothing, including her underwear, and touched her breasts and genitalia while making fun of her and threatening to rape her: “I used to be a fighter in life. Even when the Islamic Republic tried to break me down, I carried on. However, recently, I think about suicide a lot…I am like a person who waits all day for night-time so I can sleep.”
Zahra, a victim of sexual assault by a Special Forces police agent, detailed the enduring psychological impact: “I don’t think I will ever be the same person again. You will not find anything that will bring me back to myself, to return my soul to me… I hope that my testimony will result in justice and not just for me”.
The testimonies of Farzad, Maryam, Sahar, and Zahra showed the conditions that numerous Iranian women have to endure when subjected to systemic sexual violence and abuse at the hands of security personnel. These stories provide insight into the severe physical and mental harm they endured. These women have experienced unspeakable horrors that have permanently scarred their bodies and souls, from vicious beatings and electric shocks to dehumanising attacks and threats. The situation faced by Iranian women is dire, marked by persistent human rights violations and the weaponization of sexual violence. Despite these challenges, Iranian women exhibit remarkable strength and resilience in the face of adversity. The "Woman Life Freedom" uprising and subsequent crackdown highlight the ongoing struggle for justice and rights in Iran. The testimonies of survivors underscore the urgent need for international action and solidarity to address the systemic barriers that perpetuate injustice and discrimination.
Lastly, We should consider the words of Agnés Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary-General, “Without political will and fundamental constitutional and legal reforms, structural barriers will continue to plague Iran’s justice system, which has time and again exposed its shameful inability and unwillingness to effectively investigate crimes under international law,” and “With no prospects for justice domestically, the international community has a duty to stand with the survivors and pursue justice. They should support the extension of the mandate of the UN Fact-Finding mission on Iran to ensure an independent mechanism continues to collect, preserve and analyse evidence of crimes under international law and other gross human rights violations. We urge states to initiate criminal investigations in their own countries against suspected perpetrators under the principle of universal jurisdiction, with a view to issuing international arrest warrants.”