Tehran, Iran – The recent release of a BBC World report has reignited public outrage in Iran, following the violent death of teenager Nika Shakarami, a prominent figure in the Woman, Life, Freedom uprising. The report sheds light on the tragic circumstances surrounding Shakarami’s demise, revealing that she was sexually assaulted and killed by members of the Islamic Republic’s security forces during a nationwide uprising sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022.
Based on a “highly confidential” document accessed by BBC World, three security personnel were identified as directly involved in the sexual assault and murder of Shakarami. The document also implicates senior commanders who concealed the details of the crime, painting a grim picture of the events leading to her death.
In the wake of this revelation, public figures such as Prince Reza Pahlavi have taken to social media platforms to condemn the systematic abuse and call for international accountability. Pahlavi emphasized the need to hold the perpetrators, particularly Ali Khamenei, accountable for their actions, labeling the acts as crimes against humanity.
The death of Shakarami is just one among many casualties during the uprising, with over 550 protesters losing their lives at the hands of Iran’s security forces. The Me Too movement in Iran has also highlighted the systematic use of sexual abuse as a tool of oppression against women.
Prominent critics of the regime, including Hamed Esmaeilion and Masih Alinejad, have expressed their resolve to ensure that Shakarami’s killers face justice. Alinejad underscored the importance of not only identifying but also exposing the assailants, shedding light on the orchestrated nature of the crime and its far-reaching implications.
Abdollah Mohtadi, Secretary-General of the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan, pointed to Shakarami’s murder as a grim reminder of the regime’s oppressive tactics, calling for the dismantling of the regime and its ideological foundations as the only path to lasting change.
The recent revelation of a document confirming Shakarami’s rape before her murder has further fueled calls for accountability and justice. Written by the head of the Forensic Medicine Organization, the document provides evidence of sexual assault, contradicting authorities’ claims that Shakarami had committed suicide.
Shakarami’s family’s harrowing experience of finding her body in a morgue days after her disappearance, coupled with the authorities’ false narrative, underscores the urgent need for transparency and justice in the face of such egregious crimes.