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Iranian Protesters Raped in Prison: Candidate

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 10, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Iranian protesters, both male and female, were raped in a notorious prison in the aftermath of the disputed presidential election, one of the defeated candidates alleged today. Reformist Mehdi Karroubi wrote on his website that senior prison officials told him about "really shameful issues," including sexual violence that "caused serious injuries." Last week Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered the prison closed; its director has been arrested.

The Iranian chief of police said he regretted that political prisoners were transferred to a jail that "was only built for thugs and gangsters." But he denied that two detainees who have since died were mistreated, blaming their deaths on a "deadly virus infection." Opposition leaders say that three people died at the prison, including the son of one of the top aides to another defeated candidate.

Hossein Rassam, a political analyst at the British Embassy in Iran, during the mass trial now taking place in Tehran.
Hossein Rassam, a political analyst at the British Embassy in Iran, during the mass trial now taking place in Tehran.   (AP Photo/Fars News Agency, Ali Rafiee)
French lecturer Clotilde Reiss, who was reportedly arrested on July 1 and jailed on charges of spying linked to last month's riots, in the court room in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009.
French lecturer Clotilde Reiss, who was reportedly arrested on July 1 and jailed on charges of spying linked to last month's riots, in the court room in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009.   (AP Photo/ILNA,Hanif Shoaee)
Deputy of Tehran's prosecutor, Abdolreza Mohabbati, right, reads the indictment as defendants sit at the court room in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009.
Deputy of Tehran's prosecutor, Abdolreza Mohabbati, right, reads the indictment as defendants sit at the court room in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009.   (AP Photo/Fars News Agency, Hossein Salehi Ara)
This photo released by the semi-official Iranian Fars News Agency, shows the court room where dozens of opposition activists and protesters stood trial, in Tehran, Iran, Aug. 8, 2009.
This photo released by the semi-official Iranian Fars News Agency, shows the court room where dozens of opposition activists and protesters stood trial, in Tehran, Iran, Aug. 8, 2009.   (AP Photo/Fars News Agency, Ali Rafiee)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
sache
Aug 10, 2009 3:36 AM CDT
This is too sick for words.
schmidtkoff
Aug 10, 2009 2:34 AM CDT
' Last week Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered the prison closed; its director has been arrested.' just like closing the stable door after the horse got out. these people are so fearful of the west's influence that they will repress and squash like bugs their own citzens who clearly are yearning for a less repressive regime.
Timinator2K
Aug 10, 2009 1:36 AM CDT
"The Iranian chief of police said he regretted that political prisoners were transferred to a jail that "was only built for thugs and gangsters." They'll surely be left in there due to "over-crowding." Welcome to the very looong, hard, bloody struggle for freedom, Iran.

 
Iran • rape • Revolutionary Guards • Iranian Revolutionary Guard • sexual violence • Iranian election • Mir Hossein Mousavi • Iranian protests • Mehdi Karoubi

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