Iranian authorities have denied that women in the country’s prisons are being subjected to rape and other sexual abuse.
This denial comes a week after the IranWire news portal published a recording of a 22-year-old woman who took her own life after being raped by members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards during her incarceration in a prison in northwestern Iran.
Accompanying the IranWire report were statements by activist Fatemeh Davand, who alleged that at least eight young women, including a 17-year-old minor, were raped by Revolutionary Guard officers during their interrogation as part of protests that erupted in the country against the death in custody of young Mahsa Amini on December 16.
In response, the Public Relations department of the Penitentiary Agency has assured that «all actions, including detention, referral to judicial authorities and treatment of female inmates are carried out by female employees».
«The places of detention of women deprived of their liberty in the country’s prisons have adequate living conditions and guarantee full respect for the dignity of women deprived of their liberty and their citizens’ rights,» added the note, reported by the Iranian Judiciary’s news agency, Mizan.
«This organization reserves the right to bring to justice all those who spread false news,» the note concludes.
