Sexual Abuse of Students in Tehran; Khamenei Calls for Implementation of 'Limits' on the Accused

Following reports of the 'sexual abuse' of several students by the principal of a non-governmental high school in Tehran's District 2, the leader of the Islamic Republic called for the swift trial of the accused and the implementation of 'divine limits' on them. According to IRNA news agency, Ayatollah Khamenei, in a directive to the head of the judiciary on Tuesday, June 8, wrote: 'The news of the crime in one of the schools in western Tehran has caused sorrow and regret. It is necessary to implement divine limits on the convicted after a swift trial.' This directive comes amid previous claims by the plaintiffs in the case of Saeed Toosi, a famous Quran reciter, regarding the role of Ali Moghadam, the head of communications for the leader's office, in the issuance of Toosi's acquittal. Toosi was acquitted in this case despite the investigator initially issuing a 'charge of guilt' against him. Several of Toosi's students have claimed that he has sexually assaulted them in recent years. On Tuesday, several Iranian media outlets, including Khabar Online, reported that one of the officials at a boys' middle school in a non-profit educational complex in District 2 of Tehran was arrested following the sexual abuse of a group of students. Meanwhile, Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, the Tehran prosecutor, stated that the parents of 15 students have reported that this individual has committed 'sexual assault' against their children. According to Dolatabadi, the accused has confessed in court to having shown 'obscene films that he had on his mobile phone to several students' but denied other allegations. Nasser Kouhestani, the director of education in District 2 of Tehran, stated in an interview with ILNA news agency that the supervisory council of District 2 will decide on the suspension of this educational institution. Kouhestani mentioned that the accused was a 'free staff member' and worked as a 'disciplinary assistant (principal)' at this school. Meanwhile, Alireza Rahpayma, the head of public relations for Tehran's education department, said that the school's principal has been suspended for two years. Some social media users have claimed that this individual is the grandson of Ayatollah Haeri Shirazi, the former Friday prayer leader of Shiraz, but Mohammad Hassan Haeri Shirazi, the son of Ayatollah Haeri Shirazi, has denied these reports. This incident has received widespread attention on social media. At the same time, Parvaneh Mafi, a representative of Tehran in parliament, announced that she will pose a question to the Minister of Education regarding this matter, and the minister must appear in parliament to respond. Previously, reports of sexual abuse of students by teachers had been published. For instance, in June 2015, the principal of one of the schools in Tehran was sentenced to flogging, a two-year ban from educational and cultural activities, and two years of exile after parents complained about child abuse. The recent sexual abuse incident in one of Tehran's schools has once again raised the issue of educating children about sexual abuse. Siavash Shahriyar, the head of the social office of the Tehran governorate, reported last June that for the first time, a plan for 'preventing sexual abuse of children' has been prepared in Tehran province and will be unveiled soon. Meanwhile, the issue of educating children to prevent sexual abuse has been criticized by some extremist religious groups in Iran. While some government officials and parliament representatives argue that part of the education in UNESCO's 2030 document is 'aimed at preventing assault and protecting individuals' privacy,' the implementation of this document was halted last year after protests from the leader of the Islamic Republic and his close associates.