The brutal flogging of a Iranian woman lashed 74 times simply for not wearing a hijab has been condemned by the chairman of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs committee.
Alicia Kearns said the violence inflicted on 33-year-old Roya Heshmati needed to be seen in the context of a wave of “femicide” throughout the Islamic fundamentalist republic – and she also urged the world to support courageous women standing up for their basic human rights.
Posting on Facebook, Ms Heshmati said she had been punished for pictures shared on social media walking down a street in Tehran without the traditional head-covering.
She was subsequently arrested and spent 11 days behind bars before being charged with propaganda against the establishment, violating public decency and order, and disseminating immoral social media content.
Initially she was sentenced to 13 years in prison on those charges, but this was reduced on appeal to a one-year suspended sentence, a three-year ban on leaving the country, a fine of about £20, and 74 lashes.
A picture showing deep welts on Ms Heshmati’s back has been widely circulated.
Ms Kearns, the Tory MP for Rutland and Melton, told Express.co.uk: “I am deeply horrified by the actions of the Iranian authorities, and the brutality against Roya Heshmati.
“Women across the world should be free to exercise their human rights, and I admire her bravery in standing up for the freedoms of the women of Iran.
“A femicide is taking place in Iran.
“Across the world we must all raise our voices for these women demonstrating such phenomenal bravery.”
Describing her punishment earlier this week, Ms Heshmati said she had been taken to what she called a “medieval torture chamber” where she was beaten with a whip in front of a judge.
She distracted herself from the pain by reciting the words of a song which was popularised during protests which erupted in Iran after the death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was likewise arrested for an alleged hijab violation.
Ms Heshmati added: “In the name of woman, in the name of life, the clothes of slavery are torn, our black night will dawn, and all the whips will be axed.”
A report published by Human Rights Watch yesterday suggested the Iranian authorities had given no indication that they were planning to end their repression of peaceful dissent across the country, more than a year on from the demonstrations.
The World Report 2024 suggested the repressive theocracy, led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had consolidated its efforts to increase punitive measures against women who defy compulsory hijab laws and businesses that do not enforce them on their premises.
Iranian authorities have killed hundreds of protesters, arrested thousands of people, and tortured scores of detainees, including women and children, the report claimed.
Human rights groups are investigating the killing of more than 500 people, including 69 children, during the protests.
The authorities have refused to open transparent investigations into security forces’ use of alleged excessive and lethal force, torture, sexual assault, and other serious abuses, and have instead pressured families of victims to not hold public memorial services, the report says.
Michael Page, HRW’s Middle East deputy director, said: “For many, everyday life in Iran feels like a battle with a corrupt, autocratic government that has brought down the full force of its repressive machinery to quash dissent.
“Iranian authorities should know that anything short of fundamental change will only deepen public anger and frustration against their mismanagement and brutality.”
“With rampant systemic impunity inside Iran, the UN Human Rights Council member states should ensure that independent investigations into serious allegations of abuse continue at the UN level.”
