Flogging In Iran: A Brutal Sense Of Justice Unveiled

Kendrick Wilkinson 22 Jun 2025

**The practice of flogging in Iran stands as a stark and deeply disturbing testament to a justice system that frequently prioritizes punishment over rehabilitation, and control over human dignity. This form of corporal punishment, rooted in specific interpretations of Islamic Sharia law, is not merely a historical relic but a chilling reality for hundreds of individuals each year, often carried out publicly to instill fear and enforce compliance. From alleged moral transgressions to acts of political dissent, the whip's lash serves as a powerful, painful instrument of state authority, drawing widespread condemnation from international human rights organizations.** The persistent use of such cruel and inhuman punishments, including floggings, amputations, and forced blinding, as highlighted by Amnesty International, exposes an utterly brutal sense of justice that continues to shock the conscience of the global community. This article delves into the harrowing reality of flogging in Iran, exploring its legal underpinnings, the wide array of offenses that can lead to such a sentence, and the profound impact it has on individuals and society. We will examine specific cases that shed light on the mindset of judicial officials and the courage of those who defy this brutal system, while also acknowledging the broader context of human rights abuses in the Islamic Republic. Understanding this practice is crucial for anyone seeking to grasp the complexities of human rights challenges within Iran today. *** ## Table of Contents * [The Legal Basis: Sharia Law and Tertiary Code](#the-legal-basis-sharia-law-and-tertiary-code) * [Defining Flogging: A Historical and Modern Perspective](#defining-flogging-a-historical-and-modern-perspective) * [The Spectrum of Offenses: Why Iranians Are Flogged](#the-spectrum-of-offenses-why-iranians-are-flogged) * [The Brutality of the Act: Pain Maximized, Lasting Effects Minimized](#the-brutality-of-the-act-pain-maximized-lasting-effects-minimized) * [Frequency and Public Display: A Tool of Intimidation](#frequency-and-public-display-a-tool-of-intimidation) * [Notable Cases and Personal Accounts: Voices from the Shadows](#notable-cases-and-personal-accounts-voices-from-the-shadows) * [The Case of Roya Heshmat: Defiance Against Hijab Rules](#the-case-of-roya-heshmat-defiance-against-hijab-rules) * [Artists and Activists Targeted: Suppressing Dissent](#artists-and-activists-targeted-suppressing-dissent) * [The Judiciary's Stance and International Condemnation](#the-judiciarys-stance-and-international-condemnation) * [Challenging the System: Resistance and Activism](#challenging-the-system-resistance-and-activism) * [Beyond Flogging: Other Cruel Punishments](#beyond-flogging-other-cruel-punishments) * [The Evin Prison Incident: A Glimpse into Judicial Mindset](#the-evin-prison-incident-a-glimpse-into-judicial-mindset) *** ## The Legal Basis: Sharia Law and Tertiary Code The foundation for corporal punishment, including flogging in Iran, is deeply embedded within the country's legal framework, which is largely derived from Islamic Sharia law. Iranian courts consistently resort to these harsh measures in accordance with their interpretation of religious texts. This means that flogging is not an arbitrary act but a punishment firmly enshrined in Iran’s tertiary code, a comprehensive set of laws that governs various aspects of life within the Islamic Republic. The judiciary views these punishments as legitimate applications of divine law, making their abolition an uphill battle for human rights advocates. The state's commitment to these interpretations means that the legal basis for flogging is not easily challenged from within the existing system, reinforcing its pervasive nature. ### Defining Flogging: A Historical and Modern Perspective Flogging, or flagellation, is broadly defined as the act of beating the human body with special implements such as whips, rods, switches, or even the infamous cat o' nine tails. Historically, it has been a widespread form of punishment across many cultures and civilizations, often imposed on an unwilling subject to inflict pain, humiliation, and deter future transgressions. While the act itself is ancient, its continued application in modern Iran highlights a stark contrast with international human rights standards that prohibit torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. The implements used for flogging in Iran are typically whips or rods, and the punishment is commonly administered to the person's back, a vulnerable area designed to maximize pain while often minimizing visible, lasting external damage, although internal trauma can be severe. This deliberate methodology underscores the calculated cruelty behind the practice of flogging in Iran. ## The Spectrum of Offenses: Why Iranians Are Flogged The range of actions that can lead to a sentence of flogging in Iran is remarkably broad, encompassing what many international observers would consider minor infractions or even private consensual acts. The legal system applies this brutal form of corporal punishment to a wide array of behaviors, blurring the lines between criminal offenses and moral or religious transgressions. Among the most frequently cited grounds for flogging in Iran are: * **Adultery:** Extramarital sexual relations are severely punished, often with flogging, and in some cases, even stoning. * **Kissing in public:** Public displays of affection, deemed immoral or immodest, can lead to lashings. * **Theft:** While more severe forms of theft can lead to amputation, lesser forms may result in flogging. * **Homosexual acts:** These acts are considered grave offenses under Sharia law and are met with extremely harsh penalties, including flogging, and in some instances, even execution. * **Drinking or selling alcohol:** Despite being widely consumed in secret, alcohol production, sale, and consumption are strictly prohibited and punishable by flogging. A particularly shocking case involved a young man publicly flogged for consuming alcohol when he was just 14 or 15 years old, over a decade prior to his punishment. Amnesty International highlighted this incident as a stark example of the inhumanity of a justice system that legalizes brutality. * **Blasphemy:** Offenses against Islam or religious figures can lead to severe penalties, including flogging. * **Defiance of Hijab Rules:** In recent years, particularly following widespread protests, the rules surrounding the mandatory hijab have been made even stricter. Iran’s parliament passed a new “hijab and chastity” law that would significantly increase prison sentences and fines for non-compliance. As we will see with the case of Roya Heshmat, defying hijab rules can directly lead to flogging sentences. * **Participation in protests or dissent:** Engaging in demonstrations or expressing critical views against the government can also result in flogging sentences, often alongside prison terms. Mary Mohammadi, for instance, was condemned to 10 lashes and three months in prison for participating in a demonstration against the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)’s downing of a Ukrainian civilian airliner. This extensive list underscores how the Iranian legal system uses flogging as a versatile tool to enforce not only criminal law but also a strict moral and social code, extending state control deep into individuals' private lives and expressions. ## The Brutality of the Act: Pain Maximized, Lasting Effects Minimized The execution of flogging in Iran is not a haphazard affair; it is a calculated procedure designed to inflict maximum pain while, paradoxically, attempting to minimize visible lasting physical effects. This precise methodology speaks volumes about the cruel intent behind the punishment. The goal is to create an immediate, agonizing experience without necessarily leaving permanent scars that might further expose the state to international scrutiny or create long-term medical burdens. However, the absence of visible scars does not equate to an absence of harm. The procedures, often carried out with a whip or rod on the person's back, can cause: * **Excruciating immediate pain:** The force of the blows can tear skin, bruise muscles, and cause intense nerve pain. * **Internal injuries:** While not always apparent externally, repeated blows can lead to deep tissue damage, muscle trauma, and even organ damage in severe cases. * **Psychological trauma:** Perhaps the most enduring impact of flogging is the profound psychological damage. The humiliation, fear, and pain can lead to long-term anxiety, depression, PTSD, and a deep sense of violation. Victims often describe feeling dehumanized and stripped of their dignity. * **Risk of infection:** Any open wounds, even minor ones, carry the risk of infection, especially in prison environments where hygiene may be poor. The deliberate nature of this "proven procedure" highlights the systemic cruelty inherent in the practice of flogging in Iran. It's a method of torture disguised as justice, designed to break the spirit even if it doesn't always break the body visibly. ## Frequency and Public Display: A Tool of Intimidation The use of flogging in Iran is far from rare; hundreds are routinely flogged each year, making it a common feature of the country's penal landscape. What makes this practice even more alarming is that these punishments are sometimes carried out in public. Disturbing video footage of public flogging in the southern city of Bushehr, for instance, has circulated, offering a grim window into this reality. Public floggings serve a dual purpose for the authorities: 1. **Deterrence:** By making the punishment a public spectacle, the state aims to send a clear message to the populace about the severe consequences of defying its laws and moral codes. The sight of someone being publicly lashed is intended to instill fear and discourage others from similar actions. 2. **Reinforcement of Authority:** Public floggings visually demonstrate the state's power and its unwavering commitment to its interpretation of justice. It asserts dominance and control over the lives of its citizens. The public flogging of a young man in Iran, convicted of consuming alcohol over a decade ago when he was just 14 or 15 years old, powerfully illustrates the inhumanity of this system. Amnesty International rightly condemned this incident, stating that "the circumstances of this case are absolutely shocking, representing another horrific example of the Iranian authorities’ systematic resort to cruel and inhuman punishments." This public display of brutality, especially for an act committed as a minor years ago, underscores the arbitrary and deeply punitive nature of justice when it comes to flogging in Iran. ## Notable Cases and Personal Accounts: Voices from the Shadows While statistics paint a grim picture, individual stories offer a more poignant understanding of the human cost of flogging in Iran. These accounts, often bravely shared despite immense personal risk, reveal the profound impact of such punishments and the resilience of those who endure them. ### The Case of Roya Heshmat: Defiance Against Hijab Rules One prominent recent case involves Roya Heshmat, a young woman whose sentencing and flogging for defying hijab rules garnered significant international attention. According to a statement on the official news website Mizan, the judiciary confirmed her sentence, alleging links to organized groups outside Iran aimed at defying hijab regulations. Her case is emblematic of the state's increasingly harsh crackdown on women who challenge the mandatory hijab, especially in the wake of the "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests. The fact that defying a dress code can lead to such a brutal physical punishment highlights the extreme measures the Iranian authorities are willing to take to enforce their interpretation of Islamic law and suppress dissent. ### Artists and Activists Targeted: Suppressing Dissent The regime's use of flogging extends beyond moral infractions to target artists, intellectuals, and activists who dare to express dissenting views or challenge the status quo. This tactic aims to silence critical voices and stifle artistic freedom. * **Mehdi Yarrahi:** The musician, Mehdi Yarrahi, 43, was subjected to flogging by officers of the morality security prosecutor’s office in Tehran. His lawyer, Zahra Minouei, confirmed this on social media. Yarrahi is known for his protest songs, and his punishment is widely seen as an attempt to intimidate artists and prevent them from using their platforms to criticize the government. * **Tala Raassi:** In a harrowing account, Tala Raassi described being sentenced to 40 lashes for wearing a miniskirt in the privacy of a friend's home in Iran. Her story is a powerful testament to the invasive nature of the laws and the life-altering impact of such a punishment. "The punishment that changed her life," as she put it, underscores how even seemingly private acts can be deemed criminal and met with extreme physical violence. * **Mary Mohammadi:** As mentioned earlier, Mary Mohammadi, 21, was condemned to 10 lashes and three months in prison for participating in a demonstration against the IRGC’s downing of a Ukrainian civilian airliner. Her case illustrates how political activism is met with physical punishment, designed to deter public gatherings and expressions of discontent. * **Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof:** While the provided data doesn't explicitly state they were flogged, it mentions that filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof was first arrested in 2010 for supposedly filming without a permit. Other artists in Iran have indeed received floggings as part of their sentences, indicating a broader pattern of targeting cultural figures. This demonstrates a systemic effort to control narrative and expression through fear. These individual stories are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of repression where flogging in Iran is used as a tool to crush dissent, enforce social norms, and maintain power. The bravery of those who speak out, like the young woman who told Al Arabiya English that she would not stay silent even if it allowed her to avoid the punishment, serves as a beacon of hope against this brutal system. ## The Judiciary's Stance and International Condemnation Iran's judiciary consistently defends its use of corporal punishment, including flogging, by asserting its adherence to Islamic Sharia law. Official news agencies, such as IRNA, ISNA, and FARS, often report on sentences and their execution, presenting them as legitimate applications of justice. The judiciary's official news website, Mizan, serves as a platform to disseminate these rulings, reinforcing the state's position. They frame these punishments not as human rights violations but as necessary measures for maintaining moral order and national security. However, this stance stands in stark contrast to the views of international human rights organizations and the global community. Amnesty International has been particularly vocal in its condemnation, repeatedly highlighting Iran’s persistent use of cruel and inhuman punishments. The organization unequivocally states that such practices expose the authorities’ "utterly brutal sense of justice." From Amnesty's perspective, flogging constitutes torture, a grave violation of international law, which prohibits any act that intentionally inflicts severe pain or suffering for purposes such as punishment, intimidation, or coercion. The international community's concerns extend beyond the physical pain to the psychological trauma and the fundamental denial of human dignity that flogging entails. Organizations routinely call on Iran to: * Abolish all forms of corporal punishment. * Adhere to its international human rights obligations, particularly the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which Iran has signed but not ratified. * Reform its penal code to align with international standards of justice and human rights. Despite consistent international pressure, the Iranian authorities have shown little willingness to abandon these practices, viewing external criticism as interference in their internal affairs and legal sovereignty. This persistent defiance underscores the deep ideological divide between Iran's legal system and universal human rights principles. ## Challenging the System: Resistance and Activism Despite the severe risks involved, there are brave individuals and groups within Iran who continue to challenge the system and speak out against the brutality of flogging in Iran. Their acts of resistance, whether through personal defiance, legal advocacy, or public statements, offer a glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak landscape. * **Individual Defiance:** The young woman who told Al Arabiya English that she would not stay silent even if it allowed her to avoid the punishment exemplifies personal courage. This internal resistance, where individuals refuse to be broken by the system, is a powerful form of activism. Roya Heshmat's defiance against hijab rules, leading to her flogging, also highlights this spirit of non-compliance. * **Legal Advocacy:** Lawyers like Zahra Minouei, who represent individuals like Mehdi Yarrahi, play a crucial role in navigating the complex legal system, advocating for their clients, and drawing attention to human rights abuses. While their scope for direct change might be limited, their efforts help document cases and provide a voice for the accused. * **Online Activism and Reporting:** Despite heavy censorship, activists and concerned citizens use social media and independent news outlets to share information about flogging sentences and executions. The existence of interactive tools that show "who, when, where, and for what types of crimes Iranians have been sentenced to floggings" (even if inaccessible to the general public) indicates an effort to collect and visualize data, raising awareness about the scale of the issue. * **International Partnerships:** Iranian human rights defenders often work in conjunction with international organizations like Amnesty International. These partnerships are vital for amplifying voices from within Iran, providing credible information to the global community, and lobbying for international pressure on the Iranian government. Amnesty International's consistent reporting on Iran's cruel punishments, including the public flogging of the young man for alcohol consumption, helps keep the issue on the international agenda. These acts of resistance, though often met with further repression, are crucial in keeping the spotlight on the human rights situation in Iran and fostering a long-term movement for change. ## Beyond Flogging: Other Cruel Punishments While flogging in Iran is a pervasive and horrific practice, it is important to recognize that it is part of a broader spectrum of cruel and inhuman punishments routinely employed by the Iranian authorities. Amnesty International has consistently highlighted Iran’s persistent use of these methods, which expose the authorities’ "utterly brutal sense of justice." Other forms of corporal punishment and degrading treatment include: * **Amputations:** For certain types of theft, Iranian courts sentence individuals to the amputation of fingers or even limbs. This is a permanent and life-altering punishment that violates international prohibitions against torture and cruel treatment. * **Forced Blinding:** In some extreme cases, individuals have been sentenced to forced blinding, often as a form of "qisas" or retribution, where the victim of an assault can demand a similar injury be inflicted upon the perpetrator. * **Stoning:** Though less common now due to international outcry, stoning remains a legal punishment for adultery in Iran, a practice that is unequivocally condemned as a barbaric form of execution. * **Long Prison Sentences and Excessive Fines:** Beyond physical punishments, the judiciary also imposes lengthy prison sentences and exorbitant fines, particularly for political dissidents, women defying hijab rules, and activists. The new "hijab and chastity" law, for instance, increases prison sentences to up to 10 years and fines to between 180 million and 360 million Iranian Rials (a substantial amount), demonstrating a systematic effort to financially cripple and incarcerate those who challenge the state. These practices collectively paint a picture of a justice system that relies heavily on severe physical and psychological torment to control its population, rather than focusing on rehabilitation or restorative justice. ### The Evin Prison Incident: A Glimpse into Judicial Mindset An incident at Evin Prison in late spring 2022 provides a particularly chilling window into the mindset of Iran’s judicial officials regarding corporal punishment. As reported by Amnesty International, on May 31, a prisoner named Seyed Barat Hosseini had four fingers cut off in Evin Prison. This amputation, carried out within a notorious facility, underscores the authorities' unwavering commitment to these brutal punishments, even for acts that are not universally recognized as deserving of such severe retribution. The incident serves as a stark reminder that the judiciary's "brutal sense of justice" extends beyond flogging to other forms of mutilation, executed with cold precision within the confines of the state's penal institutions. It highlights a system that not only permits but actively implements practices widely considered torture under international law. *** The pervasive use of flogging in Iran, alongside other cruel and inhuman punishments, represents a profound challenge to universal human rights principles. Rooted in a specific interpretation of religious law, this practice affects hundreds of lives annually, often for acts that would not be considered crimes in much of the world. From public displays designed to instill fear to the calculated brutality of the act itself, flogging is a tool of control, suppression, and intimidation. Despite the judiciary's unwavering stance and the severe risks involved, the courage of individuals like Roya Heshmat, Mehdi Yarrahi, Tala Raassi, and Mary Mohammadi, who defy or speak out against this system, offers a powerful counter-narrative. Their resilience, coupled with the tireless advocacy of international organizations like Amnesty International, keeps the spotlight on these abuses and fuels the ongoing struggle for human dignity and justice in Iran. The international community must continue to condemn these practices unequivocally and press for the abolition of all forms of corporal punishment, advocating for a justice system that upholds human rights rather than systematically violating them. What are your thoughts on the use of corporal punishment in modern legal systems? Share your perspective in the comments below, or consider sharing this article to raise awareness about the ongoing human rights challenges in Iran.