Iranian Social Emergency Chief Confirms Reports of Assault on Young Afghan Girl in Khomeini Shahr

The head of Iran’s Social Emergency on Saturday, June 3rd, confirmed reports of assault on a young Afghan girl in Khomeini Shahr, Isfahan.

The five-year-old girl was assaulted last week, an incident that was reflected on social media at the time. In a report by the Shafaqna news website, the girl was named Bahareh.

The report also cited Afghanistan’s news agency as saying that officials from Afghanistan’s embassy in Iran confirmed the incident and stated that police and the UN Commissioner’s office for refugees are investigating it.

However, Reza Jafari, head of Iran’s Social Emergency, provided more details about the incident in an interview with ILNA news agency. Mr. Jafari said that “the child was abducted last week by three assailants while playing in front of her house, and her semi-lifeless body was found in ruins a few hours later.”

He also stated that the child was discharged from the hospital and is receiving psychological and social support through the Social Emergency.

According to reports, the suspects have not yet been arrested, but Shafaqna writes, citing Bahareh’s family, that Khomeini Shahr police officials have assured them that they are seriously investigating the matter.

The news of the assault on young Bahareh was published at a time when Iranian society is still in shock over reports of sexual assault on high school students in Tehran’s District 2.

Last Monday, videos were posted on social media showing that the school’s supervisor showed pornographic films to students.

In another video, the accused confesses to a gathering of students’ families that he sexually assaulted them. According to Tehran’s prosecutor, parents of 15 students have reported that this person sexually assaulted their children.

This incident prompted a response from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, who referred to it as a “crime” and in an order addressed to the head of the judiciary demanded the implementation of divine punishment in relation to the convicted.

Ayatollah Khamenei’s request comes at a time when he is facing criticism over the acquittal of Saeed Toosi, a Quranic reciter accused of sexual assault.

Complainants in Saeed Toosi’s case, a famous Quranic reciter, have spoken about the role of Ali Moghadam, the head of communications for the office of the leader of the Islamic Republic, in issuing the acquittal verdict for Mr. Toosi.​

Psychological Damage

IRNA news agency reported on Saturday, citing officials from the country’s Forensic Medicine Organization, that seven high school students from western Tehran have suffered psychological damage due to sexual assault.

Mahdi Saberi, head of the psychiatric examination department of the country’s Forensic Medicine Organization, said: “These students have suffered psychological damage and these damages are identifiable from a psychiatric examination perspective. It is even possible that their families are not aware of these conditions. Therefore, medical and psychiatric interventions were recommended for them to prevent further problems in the future.”

According to him, the students’ statements showed that they did not have age-appropriate education regarding sexual matters, and therefore the things the accused told them were attractive to them and caused their curiosity and pleasure, and they were exploited in this way.

This incident once again brought up the discussion about UNESCO’s 2030 agenda, part of which relates to educating students about sexual matters. Ayatollah Khamenei’s opposition and his supporters’ resistance prevented Iran from adopting this document. Mr. Khamenei considered this document a symbol of Western lifestyle and emphasized that Islam should be the basis of life in Iran.

Meanwhile, a member of the Article 90 Commission of the Islamic Consultative Assembly has asked the families of these students to contact the commission to complete the case file.

Bahram Parsai told the Borna news agency: “This issue has been raised in the Article 90 Commission and initial follow-ups and correspondence with relevant bodies will be done immediately. Then the collected information will be reviewed and will certainly receive serious attention. According to the law, the Article 90 Commission’s duty is to oversee the functioning of the three branches, and this incident stems from the incorrect functioning of the education system.”

Previously, the Islamic Consultative Assembly’s Education Commission also announced that upon entering the case, it has asked the Minister of Education to come before the commission to provide explanations.

Source: Radio Farda