In what stands as a harrowing testament to the lengths of state repression, a leaked document allegedly penned by Iran’s own security forces has surfaced, revealing disturbing details surrounding the death of 16-year-old protester, Nika Shakarami.
The document, marked “Highly Confidential,” is purportedly a summary of an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) hearing on Shakarami’s case. The teenager vanished during anti-regime protests in 2022, only to be found dead nine days later. While the Iranian government maintained that she took her own life, the leaked report tells a markedly different story – one of molestation, brutality, and a cover-up by the very forces entrusted with public order.
The report, which BBC has investigated for months, suggests that Shakarami was sexually assaulted by a security forces member as she was restrained in the back of an undercover van. Despite being handcuffed, she resisted, which allegedly led to her being beaten with batons by the men. The document includes names of her purported killers and the senior commanders who attempted to conceal the truth of what transpired.
The teenager’s untimely death occurred amidst the wider ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ movement, ignited by the passing of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after sustaining injuries in police custody under similar contentious circumstances. Shakarami’s disappearance, and the government’s subsequent denial of any connection to the protests, only fueled the widespread civil unrest that swept across Iran in the autumn of 2022.
To ascertain the authenticity of the document, the BBC engaged a former Iranian intelligence officer who verified the existence of the case file from which the report was allegedly excerpted. This case file pertains to anti-government protesters in 2022 and spans a staggering 322 pages.
The findings put a spotlight on the clandestine and violent methods utilized by the IRGC and associated paramilitary groups like Hezbollah (distinct from the Lebanese Hezbollah). The leaked document indicates that the men from Team 12, allegedly responsible for Shakarami’s death, were not penalized due to their affiliation with Hezbollah. It states, “Since the above persons belonged to the forces of Hezbollah, following up this case beyond obtaining the necessary commitments and security guarantees has not been possible.”
The severity of the regime’s response to protests is further highlighted by the United Nations’ fact-finding mission, which reports that as many as 551 protesters were killed, most by gunfire.
As for Shakarami’s family, their woes continue with the arrest of her elder sister, Aida, amidst a renewed crackdown on breaches of the Islamic dress code.
Relevant articles:
– Secret document says Iran security forces molested and killed teen protester, bbc.com, 04/30/2024