Sexual and Gender Based Violence Against Religious Freedom Protesters in Iran

This factsheet describes the Iranian government’s deliberate and systematic use of sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) against Iranians protesting mandatory hijab laws and other religious freedom violations. The factsheet demonstrates evidence that Iran’s government is actively denying evidence of these attacks. It also identifies unique ways in which Iran is weaponizing religious concepts of purity, modesty, and gender hierarchy to shame and silence protestors. The factsheet then provides documented examples of both anonymous and named survivors of state-perpetrated SGBV in Iran. It concludes by recommending the United States continue to coordinate international action to hold accountable Iranian security officials responsible for this violence.