A/HRC/28/70 B. 1. Violence against women Acid attacks 139. On 16 October 2014, the Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) published a report on at least four incidents111 of acid attacks where women who were driving in the city of Esfahan were severely injured by acid thrown on them by unknown individuals. Rumors immediately spread on social media that the individuals might have been targeted on the basis of their clothing, and that the number of victims was higher than four. Farhikhtegan Newspaper reported on the attack of Ms. Soheila Jorkesh on 20 October 2014. The article stated that “families of the Esfahan victims have claimed that before throwing acid on the victims, the perpetrators exclaimed: ‘We confront women with poor hijab.’”112 140. On 20 October 2014, Iran’s police chief, Mr. Esmail Ahmadi-Moghaddam, acknowledged, “around seven to eight people had been targeted in Esfahan.” He also said a number of suspects had been detained but that the motives behind the attacks were still unknown.113 141. On 20 October 2014, the Judiciary’s Spokesperson, Mt. Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, rejected any connection between the acid attacks and Islamic hijab stating “[c]ontrary to allegations made by certain websites, such claims have not yet been confirmed.”114 He added that the cases would be processed under rules for expedited judicial procedure. On 22 October 2014, the Security Deputy of the Interior Ministry denied allegations that the attacks were planned and/or conducted by a group stating “we are confident the attacks were carried out by one individual.”115 Iranian officials strongly reject speculation that the women might have been targeted for what was perceived as improper clothing according to Islamic principles. On 23 October 2014 the Head of the Office of the Deputy Commander in Chief of the Police, Mr. Adbolah Mahmoudzadeh, announced that individuals accused of conducting acid attacks had been arrested by the police and that the incident was not related to improper clothing.116 142. On 13 November 2014, Mr. Ismaeli Moghadam, the Chief-of-Police, admitted that the perpetrator had not yet been arrested. He also announced that 380 acid attacks had been committed against both individuals and private property over the past year.117 143. Following the Esfahan attacks, the administration announced its intent to work with the Judiciary to intensify punishment for such attacks. Authorities, however, prohibited protests against the attacks and in support of investigations. Although, on 24 October 2014, MP Abed Fatahi from Urumiah defended the rights of protestors. Civil society actors, including Ms. Nasrin Sotoudeh, Mr. Peyman Aref and Ms. Giti Pourfazel, who participated in a demonstration to protest the attacks in front of the Interior Ministry in Tehran, were arrested. 144. In response to the present report, the Government notes that Iranian authorities consistently and strongly condemn these grave actions. The government admits that the perpetrators have not yet been arrested. 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 48 http://www.isna.ir/fa/news/93072614051. http://www.iranhumanrights.org/2014/10/sotoudeh-on-acid-attacks/. http://www.tabnak.ir/fa/news/443897. http://www.isna.ir/fa/news/93072815861. http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=13930730001715. http://www.irna.ir/fa/News/81360499/. http://www.donya-e-eqtesad.com/news/840843/.