Amnesty Report Summary:
Amnesty International’s latest report, “They violently raped me”: Sexual violence weaponized to crush Iran’s uprising, exposes the use of rape and sexual violence by Iranian security forces to suppress the 2022 protests. The 120-page document details the experiences of 45 survivors, including men, women, and children, who faced rape, gang rape, and other forms of sexual violence following their arrests. The report implicates various Iranian security agencies, including the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps) and the Basij force, in these heinous acts.
Despite the gravity of the documented violations, no Iranian authorities have been charged or prosecuted for these crimes against humanity. The report emphasizes the complicity of prosecutors and judges, who not only ignored survivors’ complaints but also used torture-tainted confessions to impose spurious charges. Amnesty International shared its findings with Iranian authorities in November, receiving no response.
The survivors, spanning 17 provinces, faced a range of sexual violence and rape, often involving brutal methods such as wooden and metal batons, glass bottles, and electric shocks. The report also documents cases of survivors subjected to forms of sexual violence other than rape, such as physical abuse, forced nudity, electric shocks, and threats.
The report highlights the pervasive culture of silence and fear that prevents survivors from seeking justice domestically. Many survivors refrained from filing complaints, considering the judiciary a tool of repression. Even those who did file complaints faced threats and inaction from authorities. A leaked document exposed the authorities’ cover-up of rape complaints during the protests.
Survivors continue to grapple with the physical and psychological aftermath, with instances of suicide attempts and enduring trauma. Amnesty International calls for international support, urging the extension of the UN Fact-Finding mission on Iran to ensure an independent mechanism for collecting evidence. The international community is urged to initiate criminal investigations against suspected perpetrators under universal jurisdiction.
