In late 2022, a video circulated globally showing a horrifying incident in Tehran where members of the Iranian security forces were seen sexually assaulting a female protester in broad daylight. The footage, verified by multiple international news outlets, showed a group of officers surrounding the woman before one clearly groped her.

The Iranian government’s official response typically involved blaming "foreign agents" or claiming protesters died of pre-existing conditions. Regarding the viral video of the sexual assault, Tehran’s police public relations office eventually stated the matter was being "investigated," though activists noted that such investigations rarely lead to accountability for security personnel.

This province saw some of the highest casualty rates, particularly following "Bloody Friday" in Zahedan.

Shadows of Injustice: Sexual Violence and the Rising Toll of Iran’s 2022 Protests

This was not an isolated incident. Human rights organizations, including , documented numerous accounts of "gender-based and sexual violence" used to intimidate and punish those demanding "Woman, Life, Freedom." Survivors reported that such acts were often used during arrests or in detention centers to break the will of activists. The Human Cost: Surpassing 200 Deaths

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