Protests, arrests, and reactions to the rape in Iranshahr

Five days after the "rape of 41 women in Iranshahr" was reported in the media, the issue is still being discussed in the country's media and political circles, and has caused many reactions and protests. The women of Iranshahr held a protest rally.

About 30 women from Iranshahr gathered in front of the governor's office and demanded serious action against those responsible for kidnapping girls in the city.

IRNA news agency reported on Tuesday (June 19) that Nabibakhsh Davoudi, deputy governor of Sistan and Baluchestan, said among the women of Iranshahri: "The perpetrators of this heinous act are being pursued by the judicial system and security and intelligence forces, and they will be punished for their heinous acts in the near future."

Hojjatoleslam Ali Movahedi, the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Zahedan, also announced that another suspect has been arrested in connection with the Iranshahr rape case 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 main suspects.

Reza Abdi, the director general of forensic medicine in Sistan and Baluchestan province, also told the media that a 24-year-old man who had been harassed, abused, raped, and kidnapped had referred to the Sistan and Baluchestan forensic medicine department.

The Director General of Forensic Medicine for Sistan and Baluchestan Province quoted the man as saying that he had been raped and abused by four people. Abdi confirmed that signs of assault were also seen during the examination of the man.

Reaction of the Head of the Women's Faction in the Parliament

In the continuation of the reactions, Parvaneh Salahshouri, the head of the women's faction in the parliament, also referred to the incident of the girls in Iranshahr and said: "The Friday imam of every city is the guardian of that city, and when an issue is raised from the Friday prayer podium, something has definitely happened."

Salahshouri stressed that it would be better to complete the investigation instead of hiding the issue. Salahshouri's comments came after the country's Attorney General, Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, took a stand, saying that the person responsible for spreading false news about the rape in Iranshahr would be prosecuted and that the news should not have been made public.

The Attorney General of the country had said: "Everyone should know that issues related to moral matters, people's honor, and issues of dignity and family must remain confidential, in accordance with Islamic and legal standards."

Abdul Hamid: The cause of the Iranshahr incident is insecurity

Sunni Online, an information site for Iranian Sunnis, writes that during the Eid prayer ceremony, Mawlavi Mohammad Tayeb Mollazehi revealed a “black crime” in the city and swore to the authorities to investigate the rape case in the city. The site went to Mawlavi Abdul Hamid Esmailzehi, the Sunni Friday prayer leader in Zahedan, and asked him for his opinion on this “black crime.”

The Sunni Friday Imam of Zahedan considers the cause and root of the Iran Hasher incident to be insecurity, saying that murder, armed robbery, and hostage-taking have deprived people of their security.

In his interview, Abdul Hamid emphasizes that the provincial security council and even the Ministry of Interior have failed to take any measures in this regard and restore security to Iranshahr. He says that when insecurity concerns property and life, it also leads to insecurity of reputation.

The important part of Abdul Hamid's conversation with Sunni Online is that Iranshahr needs special attention from the government. In this regard, he also discussed solutions to curb insecurity in Iranshahr. The Sunni Friday prayer imam of Zahedan has called for a strong management to prevail in the city and for the members of the Iranshahr City Security Council to be reconsidered.

In his interview, Abdul Hamid called on the Baloch people to maintain their peace and not hold protest rallies, and to pursue the issue only through the judicial and legal channels. The Sunni cleric also called on the judicial, law enforcement, and security apparatus to pursue this issue with sensitivity.

Proposal to form a women's committee to talk to victims

A Baloch civil activist who did not want to be named told DW Persian: "The prosecutors of Iranshahr and the province have admitted that these incidents happened, but the Attorney General did not accept this. Instead of clarifying this matter, the Attorney General raises the issue of 'national prestige', but does not consider the dignity of the people who have been violated."

The Baloch activist went on to say that what happened in Iranshahr is a new phenomenon and has not been seen in Balochistan society in the last 200 years.

He emphasized: "Many Baloch experts have suggested a solution that Mr. Abdul Hamid identify a public delegation and also form a delegation of trusted sisters to talk to the victims. These sisters should encourage the victims to raise their issues."

The Baloch activist emphasized that the girls and women who were victims will not introduce themselves to law enforcement and judicial institutions. However, if the victims are invited privately and a special branch is identified for their legal representation, the victims of this incident will speak out.

Continuing his conversation with Deutsche Welle, the Baloch activist emphasized that Maulana Abdul Majid Moradzai, one of the scholars of Zahedan, spoke to the governor on behalf of Sunni clerics, and he promised them that he would investigate and follow up as quickly as possible.

Source: DW