Iran: Update to Responses to Information Requests IRN19097.E dated 19 December 1994 and IRN16039.E dated 27 January 1994 regarding domestic violence and protection available to women victims of spousal abuse
| Publisher | Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | IRN26714.E |
| Cite as | Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Iran: Update to Responses to Information Requests IRN19097.E dated 19 December 1994 and IRN16039.E dated 27 January 1994 regarding domestic violence and protection available to women victims of spousal abuse, 1 May 1997, IRN26714.E, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad3038.html [accessed 19 May 2013] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Information on this subject is scarce.
The following information was provided during a 7 May 1997 telephone interview with a specialist on women's issues in Iran at the Department of Sociology at York University. The source wrote the chapter on Iranian women in the 1995 book entitled Iran After the Revolution: The Crisis of an Islamic State.
The source stated that it is difficult to assess the extent of domestic violence in Iran because there are no statistics, but as in the rest of the world, violence against women exists in Iran.
The source was not aware of state-run services for women victims of spousal abuse. In Iran and in the Middle East in general, the family is traditionally the provider for protection to women victims of spousal abuse.
The source stated that women can ask for divorce in severe cases of violence that result in life-threatening injuries. The religious court can be addressed because of the husband's bad behaviour. The woman would need to document her injuries with, for example, photographs and a hospital or doctor's report. The source stated that the religious court would usually attempt to mediate the conflict first. It would be unsual for the religious court to grant a divorce to the woman after a first appearance.
The source added that for the woman the process of divorcing her husband would be difficult and, although it results in a divorce, her economic survival would again depend on her family.
The following information was provided during a 8 May 1997 telephone interview with a professor at Toronto University who publishes on women issues in Iran and in Islamic law.
The source stated that it is difficult to assess the extent of domestic violence in Iran because there are no statistics.
The source added that except for family and friends, there are no state-run services or protection available to battered women. The source doubted that the police would take a complaint of domestic violence seriously.
The source stated that it is difficult to assess whether a divorce would be granted; it would depend on the religious court and on whether the case occured in an urban or rural area.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Professor, Department of Sociology, York University. 7 May 1997. Telephone interview.
Professor, Department of Adult Education, University of Toronto. 8 May 1997. Telephone interview.
