Protests, Arrests, and Reactions to Assault in Iranshahr

Five days after the “assault on 41 women in Iranshahr” became a media issue, the matter continues to be discussed in media and political circles across the country, sparking numerous reactions and protests. Women of Iranshahr held a protest gathering.

Approximately 30 women from Iranshahr gathered in front of the governorate office demanding serious action against those responsible for the abduction of girls in the city.

The IRNA news agency reported on Tuesday (29 Khordad) that Nabibakhsh Davudi, Deputy Governor of Sistan and Baluchestan, stated while present among women from Iranshahr: “The perpetrators of this heinous act are being pursued by the judiciary and security and intelligence forces, and will soon face the consequences of their despicable deeds.”

Hujjat al-Islam Ali Mohammadi, General and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Zahedan, announced that another suspect related to the assault case in Iranshahr has been arrested in Zahedan. According to the provincial prosecutor, this person is not one of the main suspects in the case and only provided weapons to the primary suspects.

Reza Abdi, Director General of the Forensic Medicine Organization of Sistan and Baluchestan, also told media that a 24-year-old individual who had been subjected to harassment, abuse, forced assault, and kidnapping, referred to the Forensic Medicine Organization of Sistan and Baluchestan.

The Director General of the Forensic Medicine Organization of Sistan and Baluchestan, citing this individual, stated that she was assaulted and abused by four people. Abdi confirmed that signs of beating and injury were also observed during the examination of this person.

Reaction from the Head of Women’s Faction in Parliament

Continuing the reactions, Parvaneh Salahshouri, Head of the Women’s Faction in Parliament, referring to the incident involving girls in Iranshahr, said: “The Friday prayer imam of every city is the guardian of that city, and when an issue is raised from the Friday prayer pulpit, something has definitely happened.”

Salahshouri emphasized that instead of concealing the matter, it is better to complete the investigations. Salahshouri’s remarks came after the position taken by Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, the Prosecutor General of the Country, who stated that whoever spread the false news about the assault in Iranshahr would be pursued, and this news should not have been made public.

The Prosecutor General stated: “Everyone must know that matters related to moral issues, public honor, and issues with a personal and family aspect must, according to religious and legal standards, remain confidential.”

Abdulhamid: The Cause of the Iranshahr Incident is Insecurity

The SunniOnline website, the information platform of Sunni Muslims in Iran, writes that Maulvi Mohammad Tayyib Malhzihi unveiled “a dark crime” in the city during Eid prayers and urged officials to address the assault case in the city. The website approached Maulana Abdulhamid Ismaelzahi, the Friday prayer imam of Sunni Muslims in Zahedan, and asked his views on this “dark crime.”

The Sunni Friday prayer imam of Zahedan attributes the cause and root of the Iranshahr incident to insecurity, stating that murder, armed robbery, and kidnapping have taken the people’s peace.

Abdulhamid emphasized in his interview that the provincial Security Council and even the Interior Ministry have been unable to adopt measures in this regard and restore security to Iranshahr. He states that when there is insecurity for life and property, it leads to insecurity of honor as well.

An important part of Abdulhamid’s remarks to SunniOnline relates to the fact that Iranshahr requires special attention from the government. In this regard, he has also discussed solutions to curb insecurity in Iranshahr. The Sunni Friday prayer imam of Zahedan has requested that a strong administration govern this city and that the members of the Iranshahr city Security Council be reconsidered.

In his interview, Abdulhamid asked the Baluch people to maintain their calm and refrain from holding protest gatherings, pursuing the matter only through legal and judicial channels. This Sunni cleric also asked the judiciary, law enforcement, and security agencies to follow up on this matter with sensitivity.

Proposal to Form Women’s Committee to Speak with Victims

A Baluch civil activist who wished to remain anonymous told Deutsche Welle Farsi: “The prosecutor of Iranshahr city and the province have admitted that these incidents occurred, but the Prosecutor General of the country did not accept this matter. Instead of clarifying this case, the Prosecutor General raises the issue of ‘national honor,’ but does not consider the honor of individuals who have been disrespected.”

The Baluch activist continued by saying that what happened in Iranshahr is a new phenomenon and has not occurred in Baluchestan society in the last 200 years.

He emphasized: “Many Baluch experts have proposed a solution based on the idea that Mr. Abdulhamid designate a popular delegation and also form a committee of trusted sisters to speak with the victims. These sisters would encourage the victims to raise their issues.”

The Baluch activist stressed that girls and women who have been victims will not introduce themselves to law enforcement and judicial authorities. However, if victims are privately invited and a special branch is designated for their grievances, the victims of this incident will speak.

The Baluch activist further emphasized in his remarks to Deutsche Welle that Maulana Abdulmaajid Morad Ziahi, one of the scholars of Zahedan, on behalf of Sunni religious scholars, spoke with the governor, and he promised them to pursue and follow up as quickly as possible.

Source: DW