Mehdi Karroubi says detained anti-government protests were brutally raped. Victims are said to suffer physical and psychological damage. He has called on Ayatollah Rafsanjani to consult Supreme Leader Khamenei for an in-depth investigation.

Tehran (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Jailers raped men and women involved in anti-government protest with such savagery that they have suffered “serious physical and mental damage.” Opposition leader and presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi made the allegation in a letter to ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani in which he demanded an investigation..

Karroubi, one of two pro-reform candidates defeated by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the disputed June 12 presidential election, said senior officials had informed him of the “shameful behaviour” that took place in prison.

Noting that both male and female detainees were raped, he called on Mr Rafsanjani to consult the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei about the allegations.

As a result of protests that followed the presidential elections, Iranian authorities arrested more than 200 people, many of whom are still in jail.

“Detained girls have been sexually assaulted with . . . brutality”, Karroubi lamented.

“Young men in detention were also sexually assaulted in such a way that some are now suffering from depression and other physical and psychological problems,” he added.

“Even if one account is true, it would be a tragedy for the Islamic Republic . . . and it would whitewash the sins of many dictatorships, including that of the deposed Shah,” Karroubi said.

• iran
• rape
• men
• women
• prison
• mehdi
• karroubi
• mahmoud
• ahmadinejad
• rafsanjani
• protesters
• human
• rights
• presidential
• election
• 12
• june