Iranian Security Forces Accused of Sexually Assaulting and Killing 16-Year-Old Protester

A BBC report has alleged that Iranian security forces sexually assaulted and killed 16-year-old Nika Shakarami during the 2022 protests over the death of Mahsa Amini. The report, which cites a document written for Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, states that Shakarami was detained by undercover agents who molested her, then killed her with batons and electronic stun guns after she struggled against the assault.

Shakarami's death sparked widespread outrage, with her mother disputing the authorities' initial claim that she died after falling from a tall building. "I saw my daughter's body myself...her body was intact, her head was crushed," her mother said in a video posted on social media.

In response to the BBC report, Iranian prosecutors have filed criminal charges against activists and journalists, including potential charges against the BBC journalists who authored the report. The Iranian government has dismissed the report as "fake, incorrect and full-of-mistakes," and accused the BBC and other media of trying to "divert attention" from ongoing protests at American universities over the Israel-Hamas war.

Why this matters: The death of Nika Shakarami and the allegations against Iranian security forces have further fueled the ongoing protests in Iran that began with the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022. The UN has previously stated that Iran is responsible for the "physical violence" that led to Amini's death, which sparked the widespread demonstrations against the government's strict hijab laws and treatment of women.

Despite Iran's attempts to suppress information about Shakarami's fate, her death has been widely publicized and become another rallying cry for protesters. The leaked Revolutionary Guard document, if verified, provides a chilling account of the violence and sexual assault that some protesters, even minors like Shakarami, have allegedly faced at the hands of Iran's security apparatus as the government tries to quell the unrest.

Key Takeaways

• BBC report alleges Iranian forces sexually assaulted and killed 16-year-old Nika Shakarami.
• Shakarami's mother disputes authorities' claim, says her body was "intact, her head crushed".
• Iranian prosecutors filed criminal charges against activists and journalists, including BBC reporters.
• Nika Shakarami's death further fuels ongoing protests in Iran over Mahsa Amini's death.
• Leaked document provides alleged account of violence and sexual assault faced by protesters.