• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Science
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Tech
Iran Criminalizes Child Abuse After Outrage Over Teenage Girl’s Murder

Iran Criminalizes Child Abuse After Outrage Over Teenage Girl’s Murder

June 8, 2020
Coronavirus budget lines up Rishi Sunak for tricky relaunch of his political brand

Coronavirus budget lines up Rishi Sunak for tricky relaunch of his political brand

March 4, 2021
‘The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run’ Review: Still Square

‘The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run’ Review: Still Square

March 4, 2021
‘The Walrus and the Whistleblower’ Review: The Fight to Free a Friend

‘The Walrus and the Whistleblower’ Review: The Fight to Free a Friend

March 4, 2021
Syrian pair appear in German court over filmed ‘execution’

Syrian pair appear in German court over filmed ‘execution’

March 4, 2021
‘Chaos Walking’ Review: Just Thinking Out Loud

‘Chaos Walking’ Review: Just Thinking Out Loud

March 4, 2021
‘My Salinger Year’ Review: Ghost Writers

‘My Salinger Year’ Review: Ghost Writers

March 4, 2021
‘Adam’ Review: Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship

‘Adam’ Review: Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship

March 4, 2021
Invested in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion? You Better Be Ready To Prove It

Invested in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion? You Better Be Ready To Prove It

March 4, 2021
‘Stray’ Review: Nothing but a Hound Dog

‘Stray’ Review: Nothing but a Hound Dog

March 4, 2021
Once omnipresent Kushner now MIA from Trump’s political pack

Once omnipresent Kushner now MIA from Trump’s political pack

March 4, 2021
‘Raya and the Last Dragon’ Review: Fool Me Once

‘Raya and the Last Dragon’ Review: Fool Me Once

March 4, 2021
German panel OKs AstraZeneca vaccine jab for over 65s

German panel OKs AstraZeneca vaccine jab for over 65s

March 4, 2021
DNYUZ
  • Home
  • News
    • U.S.
    • World
    • Politics
    • Opinion
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Science
  • Entertainment
    • Culture
    • Music
    • Movie
    • Television
    • Theater
    • Gaming
    • Sports
  • Tech
    • Apps
    • Autos
    • Gear
    • Mobile
    • Startup
  • Lifestyle
    • Arts
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel
No Result
View All Result
DNYUZ
No Result
View All Result
Home News World Middle East

Iran Criminalizes Child Abuse After Outrage Over Teenage Girl’s Murder

June 8, 2020
in Middle East, News, World
Iran Criminalizes Child Abuse After Outrage Over Teenage Girl’s Murder
673
SHARES
1.9k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

After 11 years of stalling, Iran passed a law on Sunday making it a crime to emotionally or physically abuse or abandon a child, the nation’s first legal protection for children and juveniles.

The new law materialized largely in response to nationwide outrage over the murder of a teenage girl last month. Romina Ashrafi, 14, was beheaded by her father with a farming sickle because she had run off with a boyfriend.

Some Iranian media, including the official news agency IRNA, referred to the new legislation as “Romina’s law” and said if it had passed a few weeks earlier, she might still be alive.

“Romina died, but thousands of children are at the brink of life and death every day. This case clearly revealed the lack of laws protecting children,” said Reza Shafahkhah, a lawyer and children’s rights activist, who spoke to the Iranian media on Monday.

Under Iran’s Islamic penal code, Romina’s father, Reza Ashrafi, faces a maximum jail sentence of 10 years because fathers are considered guardians and, unlike mothers, are exempt from capital punishment for murdering their children.

The so-called honor killing sparked a debate in Iran over the lack of legal protection for women and children, and members of the public questioned why the legislation had remained stagnant in Parliament for 11 years.

“It’s the first time in Iran’s legal framework that harming a child is defined as a crime,” said Hadi Ghaemi, the executive director of the Center for Human Rights in Iran, an independent organization based in New York.

A separate bill that would criminalize the emotional, sexual and physical abuse of women has been in limbo for eight years.

In the aftermath of Romina’s murder, President Hassan Rouhani’s government asked Parliament to expedite passing both bills. It remained unclear whether the conservative-dominated body, elected in February, would also act on the legislation protecting women. According to government statistics, nearly two-thirds of Iranian women have experienced domestic violence of some kind at the hands of a male relative.

Masoumeh Ebtekar, Mr. Rouhani’s deputy for women and family affairs, posted a tweet on Monday, sending “congratulations to all of Iran’s children and adolescents.” She added that hopefully the new law would lead to better respect and protection for children.

The latest draft of the law was not available online and Iranian media reports relied on official explanations of its specifics. Iranian legal experts and human rights activists said that while the new law was a step forward, it still had several shortcomings.

Mr. Ghaemi said the law did not address several important issues, including child marriage, a lack of severe punishment for fathers who kill or harm their children and the execution of juvenile offenders. Iran executes more juvenile offenders than any other country, according to rights groups. The judiciary typically waits until the offenders turn 18 before executing them.

In addition to criminalizing physical abuse, the new law also sets monetary and jail punishment for preventing children from education, harassing them emotionally and forcing them to work.

Judiciary and security officials are also legally obliged now to report cases of child abuse and to place children under the protection of social services until investigations are complete.

In Romina’s case, for example, a local investigator returned her to the care of her father because he offered reassurance that he would not harm her, despite her pleas that her life was at risk. The new law would make such a move illegal.

The legislation was first introduced to Parliament in 2009. It underwent several revisions and drafts as it bounced from various committees in Parliament to the judiciary and to a constitutional watchdog.

The Guardian Council, an appointed body tasked with oversight of the Parliament, laws and elections, rejected the bill at least three times, preventing it from becoming law. On Sunday, it finally gave in and endorsed the bill.

The spokesman for the Council, Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei, said on Sunday that the body had determined that the bill to protect children and adolescents was not inconsistent with Shariah, or Islamic law, nor with Iran’s Constitution.

The post Iran Criminalizes Child Abuse After Outrage Over Teenage Girl’s Murder appeared first on New York Times.

Share269Tweet168Share

Trending Posts

Texas power grid CEO fired after deadly February blackouts

Texas power grid CEO fired after deadly February blackouts

March 4, 2021
A New League’s Shot at the N.C.A.A.: $100,000 Salaries for High School Players

A New League’s Shot at the N.C.A.A.: $100,000 Salaries for High School Players

March 4, 2021
Report on unemployment claims will offer new insight into the recovery.

Report on unemployment claims will offer new insight into the recovery.

March 4, 2021
BBC Apologizes for Interview With Cory Booker Impostor

BBC Apologizes for Interview With Cory Booker Impostor

March 4, 2021
Police Officer Investigated After Video Shows Dog Being Lifted by Collar

Police Officer Investigated After Video Shows Dog Being Lifted by Collar

March 4, 2021

Copyright © 2020.

Site Navigation

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • U.S.
    • World
    • Politics
    • Opinion
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Science
  • Entertainment
    • Culture
    • Gaming
    • Music
    • Movie
    • Sports
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Tech
    • Apps
    • Autos
    • Gear
    • Mobile
    • Startup
  • Lifestyle
    • Arts
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel

Copyright © 2020.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT