While international law bans corporal punishment, like flogging and amputation, branding them as torture, it’s commonly used in Iran and is just one of the reasons that the United Nations has condemned the Iranian government 67 times.
In 2020, at least 19 floggings sentenced were carried out, while dozens more were issued, mostly against people charged with non-violent or political crimes, like drinking alcohol or criticizing the government.
UN General Assembly Condemns Human Rights Violations in Iran
Let’s look at some of those carried out.
In June, two protesters arrested in the November 2019 nationwide protests– Ali Azizi and Elyar Hosseinzadeh – were lashed 20 times each for “disrupting public order”, while Mohammad Baqer Souri was given 80 lashes for taking part in the protests. In July, protester Foad Enayati, arrested in October 2019, was lashed 72 times, while Ahmadreza Ha’eri was flogged 74 times.
There are dozens of more protesters who were sentenced to flogging, including:
- Ali Nanvaii
- Saeed Dashtaki
- Amir Hossein Moradi
- Saeed Tamjidi
- Fatemeh Kohanzadeh
- Mohammad Rajabi
- Mohammad Eghballi Golhin
- Siavash Norouzi
- Seyed Mostafa Hashemizadeh
- Marie Mohammadi
- Ayyub Shiri
- Vahid and Habib Afkari
- Mohammadreza Heydari
- Amir Bavi
- Jabbar Fiyouji
- Ali and Reza Akbarnejad
- Salar Fiyouji
Iran’s judiciary has also issued flogging sentences against a whole raft of religious minorities, ethnic minorities, political activists, and people using free speech.
This included, but was not limited to, the following.
Christian converts Mohammadreza (Yuhan) Omidi and Zaman Fadaii for drinking communion wine in mass, each given 80 lashes. Variya Delangiz was given 24 lashes for celebrating following a referendum on an independent Kurdistan, while ten other Kurds were given 250 lashes for protesting the murder of porters.
While labor activist and member of the Syndicate of the Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (SWTSBC), Rasoul Taleb Moghaddam was lashed 74 times for taking part in a protest on Labour Day.
Bakery worker Rouhollah Barzin was given 55 lashes for posting an article critical of the Friday Prayer Leader in Cheram to social media, Mehdi Khayyeri was given 35 lashes for insulting a Judiciary official, radio anchor Sajjad Sadeghi received 74 lashes for publishing information about bribes given to the Intelligence Ministry, and athlete Seyed Ali Mir-Miran was given a flogging sentence for criticizing Sport Ministry officials.
Three doctors were given 60 lashes each for insulting President Hassan Rouhani, political activist Qassem Ataii Azimi was given 74 lashes for criticizing the North Khorasan Governor, and a teacher was given 45 lashes for drawing a caricature.
Meanwhile, eight prisoners are currently facing amputation of their fingers. They are Kasra Karami, Shahab Taymouri, Mehdi Shahivand, Arash Ali Akbari, Mehdi Sharafian, Reza Hadi Rostami, and Mehrdad Taymouri.
