As part of Iran’s violent crackdown on the popular revolt in 2019, an Iranian authority sexually assaulted and threatened to rape an environmental activist. An international tribunal for human rights will decide.
Fatemeh Khoshrou, one of the tens to thousands of Iranian youth who participated in spontaneous protests against rising prices of cooking gas, was part of what became known as “Bloody November”.
The 32-year old environmentalist, however, was sexually assaulted and threatened with rape after being arrested in Khorramabad by fanatical Revolutionary Guards.
In clashes against Iran’s security forces, around 1,500 demonstrators were wounded and 17teens were killed.
Tribunal will hear allegations that Ershad Rahmanian, a hospital doctor from Iran was tortured and killed by Revolutionary Guard members in another region of the country.
Fatemeh Khoshrou suffered sexual assaults and was threatened with rape in Iran by authorities. This happened as part of an Islamic state brutal crackdown on popular uprisings. An international tribunal to protect human rights hearing will take place.
They are here now to inform the world about the suffering of families in Iran at the Atrocities Tribunal.
This tribunal will investigate possible crimes against humanity for the deaths and injuries of thousands of people during two months of protests in 2019.
Fatemeh shared her moving testimony with MailOnline, where she has given up anonymity. I was naked. These five men touched my entire body.
“I don’t even know how many years it was. It seemed like an interminable time. It is all I can remember. I said it. [the interrogator]- “I will do anything you tell me”.
The following day Fatemeh was shown a photo of her American fiancé and ordered to trick him into coming to Iran or her parents would suffer.
She stated that they asked her to give a confession before the cameras. The US sent me there to cause disturbances in Iran, and gave me money for people to go to the streets.
I said all they asked in front the camera. I did it unwillingly. It was forced upon me. Because I was scared that these men would rape my child, I forced myself to confess.
Fatemeh Khoshrou is one of the tens to thousands of Iranian teenagers and men who participated in spontaneous protests against rising prices for cooking gas. This became known as “Bloody November”.
Fatemeh, who had been living in Turkey with her American fiancé, had only come back to Iran to visit her family and attend a hospital appointment, when the protests broke out.
She said, “One week prior to the demonstrations, I returned to Iran in order to visit my mom and follow-up a medical procedure.”
“I heard sounds coming from my street, as our home is close to the square. Because of the increase in cooking gas prices, I was aware that protests might occur. So I got out of my home.
Fatemeh explained how the crowd increased from hundreds to thousands. They marched up to government offices, chanting antiregime slogans.
However, before demonstrators were allowed to air their grievances, they were confronted by plain-clothed, armed members of the feared Republican Guard. She was then arrested. In terrible conditions, she spent three months behind bars as a political prisoner.
Fatemeh, who was forced into confessing to her crime, was held prisoner until she started a hunger strike. Then she was released after she agreed that she would work as an Iranian spy in the Iranian secret agency.
Fatemeh explained how the crowd increased from hundreds to thousands. They marched towards the government offices, chanting antiregime slogans.
Once released she returned to Turkey where she told her fiancé, who works for the US Armed Forces, what had happened and he contacted the US Embassy.
Fatemeh said no to working for Iran’s state, and Revolutionary Guard continues to menace her parents and family.
Tehran’s harsh crackdown on Bloody Nov protesters also saw Ershad Rahmanian, who was recently certified as a hospital anesthetist.
23-year-old Ershad from Marivan was on his way home, having taken his mother to the hospital one week ago, when he had participated in spontaneous demonstrations.
The body of the victim, which was battered and covered in marks from torture, was found three weeks later by a stream.
A tribunal hearing will also be held to hear allegations that Ershad Rahmanian, a hospital doctor, was abducted and tortured in another area of Pakistan by Revolutionary Guard soldiers.
Although Ershad initially confessed to being involved in Ershad’s arrest, the Revolutionary Guard attempted to make Ershad’s devastated family believe that Ershad had killed himself.
His cousin Kamyar Ahmadi is now in London to speak out against the Iran Atrocities Tribunal.
MailOnline was told by Mr Ahmadi that Ershad was tied to his wrists when the body was discovered. It was obvious that Ershad had been tortured from the appearance of his blue marks and his under eyes. His shirt was completely stained with blood. His face was swollen and distorted.
“Ershad”‘s brother, who witnessed the body, said that Ershad’s skull had been broken and that it was filled with blood. It was most likely caused by a bullet, according to his cousin.
However, according to the death certificate, cause of death says “being investigated”.
“After Ershad was discovered, the Revolutionary Guards brought his father to The Ministry of Intelligence.
‘They advised him to tell them that Ershad suffered from mental disorders and had attempted suicide.
His family denied it. He was arrested, he did not cooperate and they tortured him to death.
Ahmadi described how his parents received two separate messages during the frantic search to find Ershad. They were told twice that he was in jail and being held by Revolutionary Guards.
He told MailOnline: ‘When Ershad did not come home his family searched for him in many places – the police, the hospital, the security services. They visited even the Imam.
“During this time, Ershad’s family phoned Ershad to let them know that their son was being held at the Ministry of Intelligence.
He said, “On Ershad’s funeral security agents threatened Ershad’s family and asked them to not speak with the media.”
“Over the past year Ershad’s dad has been taken into custody five or six more times, and asked by the media why their family is speaking to them.
I have given all interviews. The family did nothing.
Tomorrow will see the opening of The Iran Atrocities Tribunal [10 November]Wayne Jordash, QC, is the head of Church House in Westminster.
He stated that the Iran Atrocities Tribunal was an international tribunal to investigate crimes against humanity in Iran and gross violations of human rights in Iran. It is responsible for alleged atrocities committed during November 2019, which were part of nationwide demonstrations.
The Islamic Republic of Iran, however, has so far failed to examine its own responsibility or those of its security forces. It also did not facilitate an independent international adjudication of violence and alleged crimes.
The Iran Atrocities Tribunal is composed entirely of independent, impartial jurists. It will probe these incidents to find the truth.