IMHRO condemns the rape of prisoners in Iran

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Source: Iranian Minorities’ Human Rights Organisation (IMHRO)

Ref.IMHRO.67

11/09/09

Since the revolution in 1979 there have been numerous reports of rape of prisoners in Iran. In Iran, prisons are places of terror, where the human spirit is destroyed with object of extracting false confessions.

IMHRO is aware of several allegations of Iranian security service officers raping male and female prisoners. Some ex-prisoners have talked about the on-going physical injuries which they have suffered as a result of the assaults.

Lila G, a Kurdish lady told IMHRO that in prison in 2005 she was gang raped by security service officers: “They did not let me sleep, even my judge raped me”.

The mother of Samira L, an Ahwazi girl, told IMHRO that her daughter committed suicide after she was released: “She was depressed and screaming, she told us that she was raped many times during integration. They killed my daughter”.

K. K, a Baluchi man, told IMHRO that they raped him when he was in prison in 2000: “They used a Pepsi bottle to rape me”.

Minorities’ researcher Reza Washahi told IMHRO that “The Iranian security service uses these inhuman practices to put pressure on political and cultural activists. They know that there is a culture of shame in Iran and they spread hatred of lesbian, gay, Bisexual and transsexual people by spreading rumours about the sexual orientation of activists. For example, one Women’s’ Rights activist was charged with being a lesbian”.

IMHRO condemns the use of torture, forced confession and rape of prisoners by the Iranian security service.

Action
Please write to one of the following and express your concern about the treatment of prisoners in Iran. Ask the Iranian authorities to investigate bad treatment of prisoners including rape and torture and bring those who are responsible to justice.

Secretary General United Nations
The Honourable Ban Ki-moon
United Nations Headquarters,
Room S-3800,
New York,
NY 10017,
USA

Supreme Leader of Iran
Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei,
The Office of the Supreme Leader
Islamic Republic Street - Shahid Keshvar Doust Street
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
E-mail via web site
http://www.leader.ir/

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Ms. Navanethem (Navi) Pillay
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights,
Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10,
Switzerland

Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadi Nejad
The Presidency
Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
E-mail via web site
http://www.president.ir/en/

European Parliament Human Rights Committee
Mrs Heidi HAUTALA
Euroopan parlamentti
Rue Wiertz
ASP 08G301
B-1047 Bryssel

Head of the Judiciary
Sadigh Ardeshir Larijani
Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh / Office of the Head of the Judiciary
Pasteur St, Vali Asr Ave
South of Serah-e Jomhouri,
Tehran 1316814737, Islamic Republic of Iran