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Iran is studying tougher penalties for violence against women, in a bill whose general lines have already been accepted by deputies.
Debates in Parliament – which began more than a decade ago – culminated this Sunday (9) in the adoption of the general principles of a bill called “Preventing the vulnerability of women and improving their security against abuse”. The text, which may still be modified, could be formally enacted in the coming months.
The bill comes seven months after the beginning of the protest movement triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, on 16 September. The young woman was detained by the police for violating the strict dress code that requires Muslim women to wear a headscarf in the country. A few days later, she died after being taken to the hospital.
In recent years, human rights activists have asked the authorities to change the law that protects women and tougher penalties for domestic violence. The text omits, however, about other abuses committed by authorities, police or simply ultraconservative men against Iranian women.
The bill provides for a prison sentence of up to 15 years in prison – compared to the current 10 years – for a man convicted of femicide, if the victim’s family rejects the death penalty in court. It also criminalizes the dissemination of pornographic images without the woman’s consent and forced marriage.
The proposal also allows the Justice to grant authorization for married women to leave the country, even if their husband prevents them from traveling abroad.
According to the latest figures available in 2019, almost 77,000 medical examinations were carried out for allegations of domestic violence against women in Iran.
(With information from AFP)