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IRAN: Allegations of Rape in Detention Centres
Analysis by Sara Farhang
TEHRAN, Aug 14, 2009 (IPS) - At continued public protests at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar Wednesday,
demonstrators are expressing their discontent with the presidency of Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad, while the rifts among the ruling elites of the Islamic government
widen.
The latest disputes are focused on allegations of rape in detention centres
made in a letter issued by reformist cleric Mehdi Karoubi, former head of
Parliament and presidential candidate who ran against Ahmadinejad in the
contested elections in June. The letter has managed to create greater
controversy than the earlier allegations of torture and murder in the prisons
of the Islamic Republic, which emphasises and promotes propriety.
Karoubi’s letter, addressed to Hashemi Rafsanjani, the powerful head of the
Expediency Council and the Assembly of Experts, expresses concern about
reports of rape by those taken into custody during the recent unrest and
urges Rafsanjani to set up an independent and unbiased committee under the
direction of the Assembly of Experts to investigate the allegations.
"A number of those arrested have reported that some [officials] have raped
women in their custody with such force resulting in severe injuries. On the
other hand there are individuals who have violently raped young men in
detention, resulting in serious physical and emotional problems," stated
Karoubi’s letter.
The letter, which was made public after ten days and - according to Karoubi’s
son - because there was no response from Rafsanjani, also suggested that
the issue be taken up with Ali Khamenei the Supreme Leader, if appropriate.
Rafsanjani later stated that he had taken up the issue with Ayatollah Hashemi
Shahroudi, the head of the Judiciary.
In an interview on Thursday with Saham News - an internet news site close to
Karoubi - the high ranking cleric explained that the head of the Judiciary had
agreed to investigate the allegations of sexual assault in prisons.
The letter has caused quite a stir among some high level conservative
officials who were quick to dismiss the charges.
Ali Larijani, the Head of the Parliament, dismissed the claims at the start of
the session of Parliament Wednesday. According to Larijani, the special
Parliamentary Committee set up to investigate the situation of those in
detention, and claims of human rights abuses following the election unrest,
had examined claims of rape and found no evidence in support of the
allegations. The dismissal by Larijani Wednesday takes place after he
suggested earlier in the week that should Karoubi have evidence in support
of his allegations, he should submit it to the Parliamentary Committee which
would investigate.
Alaedin Boroujerdi, the head of the National Security and Foreign Policy
Commission of Parliament also dismissed the claims. He explained that
according to Judge Mortazavi - who discussed these claims with Hossein
Karoubi, the son of Mehdi Karoubi - the only evidence supporting such
allegations were telephone calls made to the Etemad Melli Daily, a newspaper
affiliated with Karoubi’s political party.
Since the letter was made public, Karoubi has been the target of harsh
criticism by the hard-line Keyhan Daily newspaper, which is close to
Ahmadinejad and the Supreme Leader.
In an editorial, Hossein Shariatmadari, the editor of Keyhan called the claims
baseless and called on the Judiciary to force Karoubi to prove his claims or be
prosecuted.
But, Mir Hossein Mousavi, former Prime Minister and ostensibly defeated
presidential candidate and Majid Ansari, member of the Central Council of the
Society of Combatant Clerics, defended Karoubi’s claims. In an interview with
the government news agency IRNA Thursday, Ansari claimed that the issue of
rape in prisons was a fact and the evidence had been submitted to officials.
"Regretfully these [allegations] are true. It seems that the situation has
deteriorated so much in the Islamic Republic that such atrocities can in fact
occur," claimed Ansari who is a cleric and also a member of the Expediency
Council.
In his interview with Saham News, Karoubi, expressed regret about the fact
that Larijani and Boroujerdi dismissed claims of sexual assault in prison
before even having had the chance to investigate the issue. He went on to say
that the claims made in the letter were based on evidence provided by
victims who had confided in him, or accounts by witnesses. "So, I am not
someone who would write such a letter without evidence or based on a
phone call or unsubstantiated claim," said Karoubi.
While criticising the prevalent atmosphere of fear and violence, which makes
it impossible for victims fearing retribution to come forward, Karoubi called
for an independent committee to examine the claims of sexual abuse in
prisons. He went further, saying, "I am telling officials that these insults and
criticisms will not force me into silence, I have endured such slander over the
past 20 years and I will continue to defend the rights of the people for as
long as I am alive."
During a meeting with human rights lawyers earlier in the week, Mohsen
Rezaiee, the conservative candidate standing against Ahmadinejad in the
Presidential races, also said "if these reports are true, we have to declare
public mourning in the country." He has since vowed to follow the cases of
those in detention personally.
The issue of human rights abuses and death resulting from torture in prisons
became a cause for official concern when it was announced that Mohsen
Rooh-ol-Amini, 25, the son of a senior advisor to Mohsen Rezaiee died in
Kahrizak prison as a result of injuries due to beatings he received in
detention.
While reports of deaths in custody or deaths after release resulting for
injuries received while in custody had been made prior to Rooh-ol-Amini’s
death, they were not taken seriously by conservative officials. After the death
of Rooh-ol-Amini, a special committee was set up by the parliament to
investigate the situation of prisons. Kahrizak prison was also shut down on
order of the Supreme Leader, who cited substandard conditions.
Since the fiasco, several parliamentarians have called for the ousting of Police
Chief Ismail Ahmadi Moghaddam. In an editorial published in Parliament
News, the news site of the reformist faction of Parliament, Jamshid Ansari, a
reformist parliamentarian, called on Ahmadi Moghaddam to resign or else be
dismissed. "It would have been appropriate for Mr. Ahmadi Moghaddam to
bravely take responsibility for all that events that have transpired," said
Jamshid Ansari.
A statement issued by the reformist party Mojaheddin-e Enghalab, blamed
Ahmadinejad and Minister of Interior Sadegh Mahsouli for the atrocities at
Kahrizak. "Any action to address these developments without taking into
account the roles of these officials would be insufficient, raising concerns
about the possibility of such atrocities being repeated in the future."
After the closure of Kahrizak prison, and calls for investigation into
allegations of torture and death, the police chief dismissed claims that any
prisoners had been killed while in detention, stating that the two reported
deaths of Rooh-ol-Amini and Mohammad Kamrani resulted from a case of
meningitis. The police chief further claimed that the head of the prison had
been fired from his post and that disciplinary measures would be taken
against a few guards and officials.
The response of the police chief has left many - even in conservative camps -
unsatisfied. Ali Mottahari a conservative MP claimed the efforts of the Police
Chief to be insufficient and called for disclosure of the names of those
responsible, in an effort to ensure that they would be prosecuted.
Meanwhile, Abdulhossein Rooh-ol-Amini has stated that those responsible
for the death of his son should be identified and prosecuted. Abulhossein
Rooh-ol-Amini has claimed that in an effort to prevent similar atrocities in
the future, those responsible should face the punishment of ‘qesas’ or
retribution, which can be implemented in cases of wrongful death - should
family members choose.
(END)
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