Violence against women

Police arrest and harass girls on streets of Iran for 'improper veiling'

Three girls were arrested for the crime of improper veiling in Tehranpars in Tehran on Friday September 24 at 5 pm. They were taken to a bungalow in this area. The agents then called their parents and told them they had to hand in their daughters ID cards. These families were also told that they had until Saturday to go the "Corruption" Department in Vozara Street (regarding this case). ( Sep. 26, 2009)

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Security forces use tear gas and beat a woman trying to disperse protesters
According to reports from Tehran, security forces attacked protesters in Qâem Maqâm Street and beat a young person. The forces also used tear gas against the protesters and beat a woman to try to disperse the crowds. (Sep. 29, 2009)

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Women journalist harassed and in limbo in jail

The family of Hengameh Shahidi, journalist and Mehdi Karoubi's aid on women's issues, were able to visit her in Evin Prison. According to her mother, this visit was supposed to be in person but a female guard prevented this and said that they had to visit her from behind the glass partition.
"When they told Hengameh that the visit is from behind the partition, she became extremely troubled and started pounding her body to the walls and glass of the partition like a bird in cage and shouted that today is my daughter's birthday and I want to embrace my mother instead of her", her mother said.
"She yelled and said tell everyone that they exert severe of pressure on me and do not even let me use the bathroom", her mother added. Her mother said that she has developed kidney problems in the prison and is only allowed to use the bathroom 4 times in 24 hours.
One of the female guards in prison also constantly harasses this journalist.
"It has been 90 days that I am spending my life behind the walls of Evin or in the corridors of the Revolutionary Court or Prosecutor's Office and it is still not clear when they will release Hengameh. I am in a state of limbo", Hengameh's mother added. (Green Wave of Freedom Website – Oct. 1, 2009)