Nika Shakarami was subjected to sexual assault and then murdered by crushing her head
The BBC World Service recently uncovered documents revealing a harrowing incident involving Nika Shakarami, one of the iconic figures of the 2022 uprising in Iran. It’s heart-wrenching to learn that undercover Revolutionary Guard agents kidnapped Nika, subjected her to sexual assault, and tragically ended her life by crushing her head inside a freezer truck.
In this episode, we’re going to tackle the disturbing issue of sexual abuse, which has been systematically used by the clerical regime as a tool to break female political prisoners for decades. It’s a deeply troubling topic, but it’s crucial that we shine a light on these atrocities and work towards justice and accountability.
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Q: What is the significance of the heart-wrenching documents the BBC World Service revealed?
First, these jaw-dropping documents are like a neon sign flashing “no rule of law here!” They scream out about the utter lack of due process and the sickeningly systematic use of sexual abuse, especially against women who dare to oppose the regime.
These documents also lay bare the savage behavior of the regime’s thugs and their blatant disregard for the basic human rights of those they detain.
And let me tell you, they also highlight the incredible courage of Iran’s young women and girls who stand up to the regime’s goons and security forces. It’s like they’re saying, “You can try to silence us, but we won’t back down.”
Can you picture it? A petite 16-year-old girl, unarmed, completely outnumbered by three aggressive men!
I can totally relate! I had that exact same thought. It’s incredible how courageous she was, especially with her hands tied behind her back. She fought with everything she had, body and soul. Can you believe it? She even managed to kick one of the guards in the face just as he was about to attack her. Nika was relentless, swearing at them the whole time, and they couldn’t get her to calm down.
The regime’s undercover agents were absolutely scared to send her to any detention center because she was such a firecracker. They were convinced she’d stir up trouble among the other detainees in any prison. So, they were headed to Evin Prison, and that’s when things took a horrifying turn. They just kept on hitting her with batons and Tasers until she couldn’t hold on any longer, and she passed away in that truck not long after they took her into custody.
