Advanced members in Iran are campaigning for a law for the protection of children. But recent revelations about sexual abuse do nothing to change the resistance of conservative forces against the Reform.
The path to a better protection of children and young people, particularly from sexual abuse, is in Iran continues to be a tedious. Rare enough that such cases are publicized, and if so, the date is not an adaptation of the Islamic-conservative legislation in the sense of the UN-Convention on children’s rights, signed by Iran 25 years ago.
Only a few weeks ago, an Iranian man had reported his sexual abuse as a schoolboy on Twitter, 17 years after the traumatic experience. “He was my physics teacher in grade 10. Class. After an examination, he invited me to his home …” So the story of the anonymous Internet user begins.
Deputy Mahmoud Sadeghi, critics of the existing legal system
Shocking photos as a trigger
After he had seen recently published shocking photographs of children and young people who had been abused in a small town in the South of Iran is sexually abused, he does not want to remain silent any longer. In the social networks of the Affected praise for his “courage” and found imitators, who felt encouraged similar experiences to communicate, and a lack of support for their contemporaries defendant.
With the release of the photos, it was about teenagers or children, of a gardener in the southern of the small city of Shushtar have been sexually abused and of the abuser, even were photographed. He should have made the photos as a means to blackmail the parents. A journalist had put the photos to the web, but without having to worry about the privacy rights of the victims and their families.
The alleged perpetrator should be two weeks prior to the publication of the photos been arrested and “mental problems”, as the authorities of the city of Shushtar.
Charges against the Qur’an-reciter Said Tousi was set to the highest level of instruction
The case, Said Tousi as an example for cover-up
Member of Parliament Mahmoud Sadeghi recalled the last case of sexual abuse, who had beaten Iran in waves: “If the case Tousi not on the instructions of the highest justice would be the authorities has been set, would not dare such a rapist to behave so brazenly,” tweeted Sadeghi, a few days ago.
Said Tousi, a prominent Quran reciter, had been accused of 2015 due to the sexual abuse of young people. At least 16 young people were ready to take up the charge to connect or act as witnesses. Tousi, however, had good Connections to the spiritual leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, with the result that his case is on the Desk of the chief of the Iranian judicial authority landed. This was in February 2018, the proceedings against Tousi. Two months later one of the deputies of the judiciary, the heads of alleged “child abuse and sexual abuse of children is not widespread in our country. In comparison to Western countries, we have very few cases of abuse, due to our cultural and religious imprint.”
Apart from the fear and shame of the victims, it is actually the right situation in Iran, which protects the perpetrators from persecution and the “small number” of cases explained. “According to Islamic law, adolescents over 15 years of age are no longer children, but adults. The girls are in Iran starting at nine years of age, boys from the age of 15 the age of criminal responsibility,” explains the political scientist and expert on Islamic law, Mohammad Mohebi in an interview with Deutsche Welle. “The Sharia is the main source of the law. Sexual abuse of children is not defined in the Sharia but once. The Islamic scholars in Iran more difficult, therefore, to define the. That is why they are also against the recent draft law to the Parliament for the protection of children’s rights in Iran.”
Iran’s guardian Council projects as a brake on the progressive law
Amendment of the law a matter of urgency
For the rapist of Shushtar, the current legal situation is favorable. His victims need not prove that the sexual acts were consensual, and against their Express will. You could even be in turn accused of “prohibited conduct”, with possible fines or jail time. The rapist, however, a year jail the maximum, also because of “prohibited conduct.”
The new draft law for the protection of children’s rights wants to change that. He defined different categories of child abuse and sexual violence against children and young people. Also the trafficking of children for purposes of Prostitution and pornography will be sanctioned with prison sentences of between six months and 25 years.
Although the law was adopted already by the Parliament, it can take up to its entry into force – if it ever comes to that. Because the guardian Council has sent the draft as “not compatible with Islam” to the Parliament. The draft must now be to the Sharia to be adjusted. For example, it is for the Council of guardians is important that the father of a child has the last word, and this responsibility remains with him, even if he is to be child abuse. The Parliament should not make the required Changes, on the Arbitration with an uncertain outcome.