Women Kidnappers in Tehran Have Resurfaced - 2004-01-20

As crime, corruption, and vice in Iran reach increasingly alarming levels, reports have emerged that gangs of women kidnappers in Tehran have become active again! A recent complaint filed by a woman named 'Sara' with the 7th branch of the Tehran Criminal Court raises fears that the tragic events of last year in the capital are repeating themselves. In 2002, a gang known as 'The Vultures' was involved in the kidnapping and assault of women in Tehran, and after their arrest and public execution, Iranian judicial officials expressed hope that such incidents would not recur. However, on Thursday, January 25, 2004, at 1:30 AM, three occupants of a Peykan car attacked a young woman named 'Sara', seemingly bringing back the nightmare of the Vultures for the women of this city. In an interview with the Shargh newspaper, 'Sara' recounted how she had left her house to accompany a friend home, not wanting her to walk alone at that late hour, unaware that danger was lurking just moments away. She added, 'When I parked my Pride on Jannat Abad Boulevard (West Tehran), I noticed a Peykan stopping in my mirror, but I didn’t pay attention and was busy locking the steering wheel.' According to the report, as soon as the young woman intended to head home, three occupants of the Peykan forcibly and with a knife threatened her, throwing her into their vehicle and driving away. After traveling for 20 minutes to a less frequented area in Shahr-e Rey, the four occupants of the Peykan assaulted her and, after stealing her car, money, and mobile phone, abandoned her in a desert area near Shahr-e Rey. Experts believe that with the resurgence of such gangs, more horrifying news of this nature can be expected in the coming days.