Crime and Impunity - Sexual Torture of Women in Islamic Republic Prisons

Crimes & Impunity: A pioneering report on sexual torture in Iranian Prisons

On 10 December 2012 Justice for Iran launched the first-ever comprehensive report on sexual violence and torture in Iranian prisons. 

This weighty report based on testimonials of victims, survivors, witnesses and experts, examines the extent to which women prisoners are systematically subjected to sexual violence as a gender-specific means of silencing young Iranian girls and women dissidents.

The report will mark International Human Rights Day on 10 December. The first of three reports, Crimes & Impunity is based on historical, empirical and anecdotal facts regarding crimes committed by Iranian prison authorities during the first decade after the establishment of the Islamic Republic in Iran. “With the launch of this report, we hope to not only end the cycle of violence and silence in Iran, but also highlight the fact that if in accordance with statements of Iranian authorities torture does not exist in Iranian prisons, then they are responsible to stand by their word and bring to justice those official elements who have committed and continue to commit such illegal and criminal acts,” said Shadi Sadr, the Director of Justice for Iran project.

Crimes & Impunity covers details of mistreatment of women prisoners by Iranian prison authorities and highlights the impact of such acts on the young prisoners and their children who were subjected to or witnessed sexual violence. The report’s pioneering work documents the manner in which Iranian security officials systematically raped hundreds of Justice for Iran young virgins as a rite of passage to qualify them for execution in accordance with their interpretation of Sharia laws, or forced prisoners into marriage as a barter for life. In light of this pioneering work JFI calls upon the United Nations, international organisations and EU member states to support its proposal for the appointment of a special or joint envoy to investigate the matter of sexual torture in Iranian prisons.

About Crime without Punishment: Justice for Iran

"Crime without Punishment: Justice for Iran" project was established in July 2010 with the aim of addressing and eradicating the practice of impunity prevalent among Iranian state officials and their use of systematic sexual abuse of women as a method of torture in order to extract confession. It is a London based project, hosted by Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML) uses methods such as documentation of human rights violations, collection of information, and research about authority figures who play a role in serious and widespread violations of human rights in Iran; as well as use of judicial, political and international mechanisms in place, to execute justice, remove impunity and bring about accountability to the actors and agents of human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran. 

To read Crimes and Impunity download the attached pdf