In this episode, we’re going to discuss a subject that doesn’t get enough attention: the emotional and psychological torture inflicted on political prisoners in Iran, especially through forced divorces.
Let’s start with some background. The clerical regime in Iran has been using forced divorce as a psychological weapon against political prisoners. Why is it such a prevalent method?
Compelling political prisoners or their spouses to divorce is a common method of psychological torture used as a tool to weaken and break political prisoners by tearing apart their families. It’s also a message to others who might be pondering opposition to the regime.
I suppose this tactic isn’t just about the prisoner; it’s about exerting control over every aspect of their life, including their relationships.
You’re right. One of these political prisoners, a Baloch man, said, “From the first day, the interrogator started cursing my wife, mother, and sister. He constantly claimed my wife was involved with my friends. The false accusations about my wife were much harder to endure than the physical torture.”
The situation got to a point where the man’s wife got a divorce. This former political prisoner said, and I quote, “My wife’s divorce shattered me. I attempted suicide in prison.”
But after he was released, he found out that the interrogator’s lies about his wife had been spread in his hometown. And that was why his honorable wife couldn’t bear the accusations and had to move away with her family.
That’s very sad, to hear what this inhuman regime does to the lives of people whose only demand is freedom. But is forced divorce the only method? What other methods does the Iranian regime use against their political opponents?
Yes! We had the case of a Baloch woman who was arrested and detained without a warrant. The security forces set a condition for her release and that was for her to reveal the whereabouts of her husband. Something that she might not even know, and her case remains uncertain as of today.
We also had the case of a couple, who were beaten and tortured in front of each other to make forced confessions. Then, the security agencies set a heavy bail for the woman but said she could only be released if she divorced her husband who was also a political prisoner.
I’ve also read about Sunni prisoners in Mashhad who said they faced threats of divorce and rape for years against their families.
Yes, that’s true. These cases have happened in different forms all across Iran, in Khuzestan, in Kurdistan, in Sistan and Baluchistan, and virtually everywhere and in all provinces.
Now, one of the political prisoners, whose wife was forced to divorce him was Alireza Golipour. He was an electrical engineer who passed away earlier this month after years of torture and mistreatment. What can you tell us about his story?
Well, the story of Alireza Golipour is truly heartbreaking. As you said, he was an electrical engineer who was studying in Germany on scholarship, before returning home and getting arrested in 2012. He was a supporter of the opposition PMOI, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, and he was accused of leaking information about the regime’s nuclear program. Therefore, he had been subjected to extreme physical and psychological torture, leading to severe health issues. He passed away a few weeks ago due to heart disease.
In his case, too, the intelligence ministry agencies put intense pressure on his wife and forced her to divorce him.
But couldn’t one argue that these divorces are more about personal choices? How can we be sure that they are forced?
That’s a valid question. While divorce might seem like a personal choice, the evidence shows it’s far from voluntary in these cases.
Iranian intelligence officers often threaten or manipulate family members to file for divorce. In Golipour’s case, the regime spread false reports about him to pressure his wife into ending the marriage. This wasn’t a situation where the wife had agency—it was a coercive act orchestrated by the authorities.
Let me challenge that. Some may argue that this tactic is a necessary part of a larger security strategy. The Iranian regime might view these prisoners as genuine threats to national stability. Doesn’t a government have the right to take extreme measures to protect itself?
Understandably, a government would take security measures, but these actions cross a line. We’re not talking about national security here; we’re talking about punishing people for their political beliefs, often without fair trials or legitimate charges. The use of family destruction as a tool of oppression is a human rights violation, not a legitimate security measure.
How has the international community responded to these cases? Is there enough attention on this issue?
Unfortunately, not enough. While international human rights organizations have documented cases of forced divorce and other forms of psychological torture, there hasn’t been significant action. The regime continues these practices with impunity. There’s a real need for more consistent international pressure to hold the Iranian government accountable.
And one last question before we wrap up. Has the Iranian regime been successful in silencing political prisoners through such inhuman measures, forcing them to give up their resistance?
The answer is no, not at all. Today, political prisoners are stronger than ever. For 34 weeks now, they have been holding nationwide hunger strikes every Tuesday in 21 prisons, protesting the regime’s spree of executions. This campaign, called “No to Executions Tuesdays,” has garnered significant domestic and international support. Just this past week, they courageously commemorated the second anniversary of the 2022 uprising and honored its victims in many prisons, including the women’s ward of Evin.
