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Goddess Amani

“Sexual assault”, “sexual harassment”, and “sexual abuse” are three concepts that are considered as forms of sexual violence in the literature of the women’s movement and have different legal meanings. The common thread among all forms of sexual violence is that sexual contact occurs without full and informed consent of both parties. Legal definitions and responses to it vary in different countries. In some countries, sexual assault refers to all non-consensual sexual behaviors, while rape is only used to describe severe forms of sexual assault where the victim’s body is violated. In today’s world, where various societal factors (which are a separate discussion) have led to an increase in different types of sexual violence, victims of these acts can be anyone regardless of their gender, age, skin color, clothing, or social group.

Without a doubt, some social groups are more vulnerable than others. The level of vulnerability depends on the power dynamics that an individual has with other social groups in society. In a patriarchal society, individuals who are economically, socially, culturally, and even politically marginalized are more at risk of experiencing sexual violence. Sexual violence, which includes sexual assault, rape, and sexual harassment, can take various forms. It can occur without any weapons, in silence or in protest, openly or secretly, against the will and consent of the individual.

Sexual violence does not necessarily occur in the darkness of night or in unsafe spaces, nor is it always perpetrated by strangers. It can also be carried out by individuals who have gained the trust of the victim due to familiarity, and can occur within the home and in relationships between spouses.

In general, sexual violence is perpetrated by men and boys against women and girls. However, various studies have also pointed to instances of sexual violence among powerful male inmates in public prisons, especially in the United States, and among same-sex relationships.

Human rights activists and feminists are aware that sexual violence (rape, assault, and harassment) is often accompanied by silence in various societies and is a clear violation of women’s rights and dignity. Sexual violence has specific roots that advocates of gender equality emphasize, including the idea that “silence must be broken” and that “sexual violence is not rare” and is a harsh reality for girls and women. Over the past 60 years, rich literature has been written not only in developed Western countries, but also in many Asian, African, and Latin American countries, on various experiences of sexual violence, and the call to combat it and its consequences has become louder every day. This literature sheds light on power dynamics and social group behaviors, including rape in regular prisons, especially men’s prisons (in America), and group rape and assault on women in war zones. Sexual violence and rape are a means of destroying self-confidence and human dignity, whether it is towards imprisoned women or in war zones, to create

In America, there are relatively accurate statistics on cases of sexual violence, and organizations and non-governmental institutions have taken effective steps to eliminate barriers to reporting sexual violence. According to a comprehensive study in which 16,000 women were interviewed, 18.3% of women and girls have experienced sexual violence at some point in their lives. Of this number, 42.2% have experienced sexual violence under the age of 18.

Despite the above statistics, many cases of sexual violence are still not reported, even in America. The reality is that in modern society, women are considered as a subordinate force in the community, among the “assets” and “wealth” that make up the powerful members of society – who are and have been men. The value of this “wealth” is closely tied to a woman’s “purity” and “chastity”, and if a woman or girl falls victim to sexual violence, traditional values place the burden on the victim and somehow diminish the value of this “asset” and “wealth”. With such a history, it is understandable that throughout history, compensation for violence against women and girls has been paid to the male members of the family, including the father, husband, son of the woman, and daughter.

The silence of the law, even in advanced countries of the world, in the face of “violence,” “imposition,” or “non-consensual relationships,” even in marital relationships, is supported by such a theoretical foundation that was prevalent in America until the 1990s. The United Nations Women’s Commission, in the early 2000s, for the first time classified such relationships as sexual violence against women. This issue, which is still not reflected in many laws of the world and is not even considered a form of violence in marital relationships, is due to the values and structures of the traditional patriarchal system, where the man is the “owner” and has the “right” to use whatever belongs to him as he wishes. It is worth noting that in oppressive systems and relationships of power, such as in the case of black women and their owners, such relationships existed and were not considered a crime or even had a negative connotation. Because the male owner believed he had

Exactly with such thoughts, throughout history, sexual violence against Russian women who were not considered as “property” of a man, was not addressed; because acts of sexual violence did not harm the “possessions” and “wealth” of a man.

Based on its historical and cultural background, it is considered revolutionary when supporters of women’s human rights and feminists declare sexual violence and assault as a crime against men. This is because it challenges the traditional father-patriarchy and recognizes women as human beings with dignity and human rights, rather than mere possessions of men. Feminist approaches and advocates of women’s human rights identify sexual violence with four characteristics:

1. Deprivation of women from control and rights over their own bodies. Men’s control over women’s sexuality, bodies, and reproduction is one of the foundations of the patriarchal system, an unequal and oppressive system.

2. The concept of transcending includes expanding and extending concepts such as “women’s human rights” and is not only limited to physical harm. It also includes psychological and emotional harm that can have long-term effects and put the well-being of women and girls at risk in terms of physical, mental, and emotional health.

3. Sexual violence and its various forms reproduce patterns of controlling women’s freedom and endanger their enjoyment of freedom and human dignity.

4. Sexual violence and, in general, sexual violence can be examined under the umbrella of systemic oppression ideologies. These ideologies and multiple systems of domination, including racism and colonialism, reproduce and perpetuate sexual violence and patriarchal structures. Therefore, challenging power dynamics of oppressive and unequal relationships is a common point in dismantling patriarchal or racist colonial structures.

In general, sexual violence must be taken seriously, its damages must be recognized, and those who commit acts of sexual violence must be held accountable legally. The burden of responsibility for sexual violence lies on the individual who commits it, and individuals, institutions, and governmental systems that block the path to justice for the victim are indirectly endorsing the perpetrator and putting the lives of other women and girls at risk.

It seems that mental invalidations such as “the worm comes from within the tree” and “it’s the woman’s fault” pour cleansing water over the aggressor and protester, leaving their hands free to continue their heinous actions. Even individuals or media outlets who take a “middle ground” position and suggest that “it must have been their own fault that they (the man) was provoked to commit this violence”, “they did it for their own benefit”, “they planned this scheme for blackmail”, “they used the man as a tool”, and other statements of this kind, assume that the victim and the perpetrator share equal responsibility. While assault, invasion, harassment, and sexual abuse are the “choices” of the aggressor and protester. In such a situation, the victim has the right to choose other options instead of “assault”, “invasion”, and violent actions; including leaving the environment. Meanwhile, the perpetrator “gives themselves the right” to commit violence; because

What is the culture of sexual violence?

The culture of sexual violence encompasses sexual assault, rape, and sexual harassment, and is a culture that is perpetuated through the use of derogatory language towards women, objectifying their bodies, and normalizing and softening sexual violence within society.

The symbols of sexual violence in culture are as follows:

• The victim is blamed by placing the responsibility of violence on their shoulders and once again, putting them in the cycle of violence; statements such as “they asked for it”, “they reap what they sow”.

• Justifying sexual violence with statements such as “men will always be men” and “women should be careful with themselves”.

• Jokes and jokes that are sexual and anti-women.

• Silence and tolerance in the face of sexual violence.

• Justifying violence by taking the responsibility off the shoulders of the individual who has committed the act of violence and placing it on the behavior, mental state, clothing, motivations, and past behavior of the woman, etc.

• Definition of masculinity and its application with words such as dominant, powerful, and sexually aggressive.

• Definition of femininity and its application in language with words such as obedient, quiet, receptive, and sexually passive.

• The burden of responsibility for abuse and assault is placed on the victim and they are subjected to mental constructs such as “blameless woman” during the act of violation.

• Limiting the freedom of women and girls to travel, be present in public spaces, control their behavior, dress, and even taking away their youthful vitality and burdening them with the responsibility of their own safety, while freeing men from any restrictions and control over their behavior.

• Not recognizing sexual violence as one of the serious obstacles to the healthy physical, mental, and emotional life of women and girls and a violation of their human rights and dignity.

Iran

In recent years, we have increasingly witnessed sexual violence in forms that were less common in Iran. The shocking incident of the rape of a 5-year-old Afghan child in Isfahan in June of this year, after being abducted, has exposed the widespread issue of child abuse and sexual violence. It is shameful that those in positions of power, instead of addressing the issue and creating a safe space for children (such as in a study in Urmia where 50% of children have been harassed and abused), make statements like the representative of Khomeini: “The person who exposed the incident wants to promote a culture of vulgarity.”

In addition, a high school supervisor in Tehran with more than 150 students has been caught sending pornographic videos and encouraging students to engage in sexual relationships and forcing them to engage in unhealthy relationships with each other. The sexual harassment and abuse of students at Moein High School by the school supervisor is another example of group sexual violence. In this case, the negligence, procrastination, and indifference of the school’s principal and founder is something that should not be ignored.

Fatemeh Saeedi, a member of the Education Committee of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, says in an interview with Shargh: “The main issue is that the selection of education and training does not include accurate and very important psychological tests. Instead of asking personal questions and invading people’s lives by the security forces, go and see how a mentally ill person harasses 16 students in a school? How many times do we have to hear about our children being harassed, assaulted and beaten before we decide to think fundamentally?” The reality is that sexual and gender abnormalities have become so widespread in Iranian society that not only the school environment, but also the public space cannot be a safe space for adolescents and children.

The case of sexual assault against women in Iranshahr is the latest example of such group violence in Iran. Mullah Taib Malazehi, the Imam of the Sunni Mosque of Noor in Iranshahr, mentioned in his Eid al-Fitr prayers the sexual assault of 41 girls in this city. He requested that authorities take serious action to address this issue. Mullah Taib Malazehi stated that the father of one of the victims had asked him to raise awareness about this issue and prevent further incidents from occurring.

It is regrettable that the public and revolutionary prosecutor of Zahedan, instead of seeking justice for individuals who have committed sexual violence – and it seems they are powerful figures in the city – states: “Considering the existence of issues such as sanctions and economic problems, the country needs peace and stability and people must be vigilant and aware not to be influenced by the deception of an individual who has introduced himself as responsible for one of the social media networks and is living outside the country and is considered an opponent of the system, and not gather or take refuge.”

The Attorney General of the country has also denied this horrific incident and announced that the source of the news about the violation of a group of women in Sistan and Baluchestan is being pursued.

The news and information reflected in the Iranian media regarding this group assault emphasizes that, considering the culture of sexual violence that dominates in Iran, many families whose daughters have been subjected to violence, label them as a stain on the family’s honor and some even go as far as to physically “eliminate” their daughters. In such an environment, girls and women in Iran are hesitant to report cases of sexual violence. The mechanisms of “shame” and “honor” operate in all human societies, but social research shows that gender inequalities in society, the dominant discourse of women as second-class citizens, the culture of misogyny, the inequality of women’s and men’s rights in terms of the law, power dynamics, and the patriarchal system, all have a major impact on the way and extent of reporting sexual violence.

Placing the responsibility for sexual violence on the shoulders of some religious leaders who have brought up issues such as “lack of recreational facilities, leisure time, geographical constraints, and distance from the center, bad weather” and not covering up sexual violence crimes as the Attorney General of the Islamic Republic of Iran has stated, “we are religiously obligated not to make some news public, inciting public opinion is a crime, and therefore we should not spread news with the intention of pouring water on the enemy’s mill”, does not bring justice to the victims of sexual violence. The unity and stability of a society depends on those in power defending the rights of citizens, especially vulnerable groups, and gaining the trust of citizens by taking positive steps and implementing comprehensive policies for peace, security, and the human dignity of women and girls.