Tehran, Iran – The judiciary in Iran has taken legal action against several journalists and activists following the release of a BBC report that exposed the alleged sexual assault and murder of a 16-year-old protester named Nika Shakarami. The report, part of the BBC Eye investigation, claimed that men linked to the security forces were involved in the tragic incident. Officials swiftly dismissed the report as “fake, incorrect, and filled with mistakes,” leading to charges being filed against those accused of “disrupting the psychological security of society.”
The individuals targeted by the judiciary have not been publicly named, but two Iranian journalists came forward saying that they were among those facing legal repercussions for commenting on the report. Mohammad Parsi disclosed on Twitter that he had been summoned by the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office for writing an article on Nika Shakarami and the circumstances surrounding her death. The second journalist, Marzieh Mahmoodi, shared that the details of the charges against her were not yet known.
Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi condemned the BBC’s findings, alleging that the report was concocted by Iran’s adversaries to manipulate public opinion. Vahidi labeled the investigation as a ploy to distract from ongoing protests in the US and Iran’s recent military actions in the region. BBC News has not responded publicly to Vahidi’s accusations or the subsequent actions taken by the Iranian judiciary.
Nika Shakarami had become a prominent figure in the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement, stemming from the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died in custody on allegations related to her hijab. Nika’s involvement in protests in 2022 led to her disappearance after she was pursued by security forces. Her family later discovered her body, debunking official claims of suicide and alleging foul play.
The BBC investigation, released recently, shed light on a leaked document detailing the events leading to Nika’s death. According to the report, she was detained and subjected to assault by a group associated with the IRGC. The account described a harrowing sequence of events that eventually led to her tragic demise. While the veracity of the document was questioned, the BBC maintained that extensive research supported its findings.
In the wake of these revelations, the Iranian government and the IRGC were approached for comment by the BBC but did not respond to the allegations made against them. The case of Nika Shakarami underscores the challenges faced by protesters in Iran and the risks associated with speaking out against government actions. As the legal battle continues, questions surrounding accountability and justice in Iran’s judicial system remain unanswered.