Psychological torture to encourage young protesters to commit suicide
A young woman recently released on temporary leave from a detention center revealed the regime’s psychological torture of young people, encouraging them to commit suicide. She said the authorities force inmates to take some pills without telling them what they are. She acknowledged that she had been sexually assaulted but refrained from explaining the details.
The young woman said in an audio recording:
They harassed me and hindered my (legal) procedure to keep holding me. Some psychologists and psychiatrists advanced psychological torture and war. They said, ‘Why did you ruin your life? Now what? What did you achieve by doing so?’ Then, the psychologist said, ‘There is no use. Young people think of committing suicide when these things happen! You shouldn’t think of suicide! Don’t think of suicide! But what is it worth if you want to continue your life this way?’
They tried to repeat the word “suicide.” They kept asking me, “Did you commit suicide? Do you intend to commit suicide?” Every time, I told them that I didn’t want to die. I want to stay and see our free Iran. I want to see the end of this when everything has changed for the better. But they didn’t accept, and they tried to put some thought into my brain every time.
They said other things; they waged psychological torture. The head of the prison kept speaking about the rioters who did not have brains and didn’t understand. They were receiving instructions from someone else, that they were led and guided by someone else, and they did not know what to do or what they could do, the prison warden said.
The authorities also encourage inmates to be wrong with those brought to jail on the charge of association and assembly. On my first day, prisoners attacked me, telling me, “Because of you, we can’t go on leave, and we can’t see our family.”
The prison authorities also gave me some sedatives and didn’t tell me what they were. I just had to take them. They waited until I swallowed the pills, and then, they would go. If I did not take the pills, I would be taken to solitary confinement.”
This testimony again confirms the need for an international delegation to visit Iranian prisons and talk to the inmates. Also, the international community needs to take action to secure the release of all detained protesters.
