Activists Report Torture, Sexual Abuse Of Detained Protesters In Iran

A network of activists with a mandate to follow up on the condition of detained protesters in Iran has reported dire human rights violations such as torture and sexual abuse.

The “Volunteer Committee to Follow-Up on the Situation of Detainees” reported torture, sexual harassment, threats of rape, not having access to medical services, and the detention of some detainees in secret locations.

The committee announced that it was able to identify over 1,600 prisoners, including 65 minors.

“These prisoners include 969 ordinary citizens, 393 students, 145 civil activists, 42 journalists, 40 political activists, 38 women's rights activists and 26 attorneys.”

According to this committee, some others have been threatened with arrest and harassment of their family members.

“A female prisoner has been openly threatened with rape. The interrogators told her and other detainees “If you are raped here, you cannot protest! Your want to get naked, and you must pay for it!” The government and its agents accuse anti-hijab protesters of improper attire and nudity.

Another detainee has told activists that some protest prisoners are kept with criminals, and they have been sexually abused by them.

According to this report, some injured people who have dozens of shotgun pellets in their bodies were left unattended.

At least 14,000 people have been arrested during the recent protests. However, Kazem Gharibabadi, secretary of Iran's High Council for Human Rights denied the arrest of so many people but did not provide any official information about the number of detainees.