Lawmakers Banned from Discussing Rape

The Speaker of Iran’s eight Majlis Ali Larijani denied allegations of sexual abuse of detainees yesterday while several Majlis lawmakers confirmed such reports in interviews with Rooz.  They added, however, that they had been banned from discussing the matter.  Meanwhile, pro-government media outlets demanded the prosecution of Karoubi for disclosing the existence of rape in prisons. 

These debates are broiling while one Majlis lawmaker told Rooz, “During the special Majlis committee’s visit of the Evin Prison, several prisoners openly talked about sexual abuse; even though they did not specifically use the word ‘rape’ and only spoke about sexual abuse.” 

Expressing his surprise with Ali Larijani’s remarks that he made on Wednesday in which he denied the allegation of rape in Iranian prisons, this lawmaker added, “It would have been better if he had waited a few days, even if for the sake of appearances; because on Tuesday he spoke about the necessity of ‘investigating’ Karoubi’s claims, but the next day he denied them.  What could have happened during this short time to push him towards his new conclusion?”

Meanwhile, members of the special Majlis committee formed to investigate detainee conditions visited a group of detainees at Evin Prison.  The issue of sexual abuse was brought up at the meeting and, this time, a number of prisoners spoke in more detail about tortures, rape and sexual abuse.  

Rape Has Been Proven

At the same time, Majid Ansari, a prominent member of the Assembly of Combatant Clergy [Majma Rohaniyoon Mobarez], announced that there are many reported cases of rape in prisons.

Ansari added, “Unfortunately, the reports are true.  One must wish for death that the situation in the Islamic Republic has become so dire that such horrors are committed.  There has been not one but numerous cases of rape.” 

This member of the Assembly of Combatant Clergy told IRNA that the incidence of rape has been proven and that the reports have been sent to “authorities.”  This type of reference to “authorities” in the Islamic Republic is usually reserved for the supreme leader. 

The National Trust [Etemad Melli] Party spokesperson Ismail Gerami Moghaddam also announced that Karoubi’s knowledge of these crimes exceeds what has been revealed so far.  Speaking to BBC, he said that he was surprised with Ali Larijani’s flip-flop on the issue, and the fact that he reversed his stance from “investigation” to “denial” in just one day.

Mousavi Criticizes Prison Conditions

Mir-Hossein Mousavi, the candidate who opposed the June 12 election results, announced in this connection, “What transpires in prisons today clearly illustrates the need for fundamental reform in the country.” 

Meeting with members of the Reform Coalition Council, Mousavi said, “None of the caring revolutionary forces wanted such events to transpire in our country one day, and worse yet, for them to justified with repeated lies.”  He added, “The biggest lie is to connect the people’s natural demand for reform to foreigners.” 

Expediency Council member Mohsen Rezaei also demanded that all relevant authorities be dismissed from their posts and punihed if the reports are proven to be true.” 

Meeting with members of the Lawyers Association in Defense of Human Rights, he said, “If in the Islamic Republic one official commits immoral and unethical acts, national mourning must be declared, let alone if such acts are committed against the nation’s youth.” 

Supreme Leader’s Tacit Reaction

In a tacit reaction to Karoubi’s remarks about rape in Iranian prisons, ayatollah Khamenei said on Wednesday, “Unfortunately some do not have the capacity for enough understanding; they don’t understand at all.  They suddenly say something that favors Islamic Republic’s enemies.”

According to the Fars; news agency, the leader of the Islamic republic said during the meeting with his staff, “It is easy for suspicion to enter a person’s mind; it is hard to wipe it clean.” 

Meanwhile, Larijani announced yesterday on the Majlis floor that, “Because of the sensitivity of the subject, I had asked the Majlis fact-finding committee to investigate the matter, and their inquiry has concluded that no evidence of rape or sexual abuse was documented in a thorough and detailed investigation of the Kahrizak detention facility and Evin Prison.” 

In a similar reaction, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head of the Majlis National Security Committee dismissed Karoubi’s letter as being unreasonable, announcing, “I spoke with the Tehran prosecutor this morning and told him that the issues discussed in the letter are insulting to the regime.” 

Widespread Attacks on Karoubi

Pro-government media outlets unleashed widespread attacks on Mehdi Karoubi following the publication of his letter.  The IRNA news agency published a series of articles and interviews demanding Mehdi Karoubi’s prosecution and accused his advisors of supplying him with false information.  The Fars news agency, which is close to the Islamic Revolution Passdaran Guards Corps, also published a series of interviews with people who accused Karoubi of being a “simpleton.” 

However, the harshest attacks against the former Majlis speaker came from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s supporters at Kayhan newspaper.  Hossein Shariatmadari wrote in the paper’s main editorial, “People value their revolution and Islamic regime very much and will not allot people such as Mehdi Karoubi to play their dignity in order to appease the CIA and Mossad.”

Shariatmadari also demanded that the judiciary summon Karoubi, noting that his crime is consequential, and his punishment must be proportional.