Judiciary Denies Filming of 'Naked Body Searches' of Prisoners, But Confirms the Practice

Following the accounts of several women political and social activists regarding their 'naked searches' and 'photographing' during detention by Islamic Republic agents, the news agency of the Iranian judiciary reacted with a statement. The 'Mizan' news agency, affiliated with the judiciary, claimed that 'body searches' of suspects and convicts 'before entering prison' are currently conducted using 'modern technological equipment.' Nevertheless, it confirmed that 'in some specific cases where a complete body examination is necessary,' these searches are conducted 'in accordance with legal, religious standards and the privacy of individuals,' and searches of female prisoners are 'only conducted by female officers.' This news agency, which is funded by the public budget, further emphasized that 'no images are recorded or captured during these searches' and labeled the published accounts as 'part of a black propaganda project against Iran.' In the first week of Khordad (May), several female political and social activists reported cases of 'complete nakedness' by Islamic Republic agents during detention or while being transferred to detention centers, and photographing this situation. Zeynab Zaman, one of these individuals, tweeted that during her detention, 'I was completely stripped twice' and that a police officer told her 'to get completely naked,' with the second instance occurring 'in front of the camera in solitary confinement.' Despite this, the official media of the Iranian judiciary stated that 'no images are recorded or captured' during these searches and that body searches are conducted 'while adhering to all protocols.' The Mizan news agency also introduced a security scenario, adding that these accounts are 'a black propaganda project against Iran abroad,' with some individuals inside 'echoing the same words as foreigners.' Meanwhile, Nasibe Shamsai, an activist against compulsory hijab in the 'Girls of Revolution Street' campaign, also confirmed these accounts and tweeted: 'This was done to me three times' and 'it is unclear who was observing. The female guard said to take off all your clothes.' Despite these accounts and similar reports from other individuals in recent years and decades regarding sexual harassment, being stripped in front of a camera in Islamic Republic detention centers and prisons, the judiciary's media has threatened narrators that 'claims made without evidence will be pursued legally.' So far, other women such as Shaparak Shajary, Mojgan Keshavarz, and Mahnaz Afshar have also published similar accounts of such behaviors by Islamic Republic agents in detention centers, prisons, or police facilities. The record of the Islamic Republic in terms of human rights has been documented in various UN reports over the past few decades. Violations of the rights of detainees and prisoners, the use of 'torture,' and the lack of independent investigation into the claims made are part of the Islamic Republic's human rights record in international forums. Molavi Abdulhamid Ismailzahi, the Sunni Friday prayer leader of Zahedan, also stated on May 29 in protest of this situation that 'torture has become a common practice.'