Edaalate ‘Ali
Numerous reports from political prisoners in Iran indicate that security forces use various methods to torture and demoralize them. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is normally used as a treatment for certain psychiatric disorder
One such method is to attribute mental health problems to political activists in order to undermine their identity and influence.
The stigmatization can lead to prisoners being transferred to psychiatric hospitals, where they may be subjected to forced treatments such as electric shock.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is normally used as a treatment for certain psychiatric disorders such as severe depression. However, there are reports that it is used as a tool to torture political prisoners. For example, an article on the website of psychiatrists states that in the past, electric shock was commonly abused to stigmatize prisoners and label them as mentally ill.
In addition, the forced and unnecessary use of psychiatric drugs has also been reported as a form of pharmacological torture. The Committee to Free Political Prisoners has emphasized that the mental recovery of those subjected to “pharmacological torture” is “further delayed.”
There are also reports of sexual rape as a systematic method of torturing political prisoners in Iran. In the prisons of the Islamic Republic of Iran, rape by interrogators and prison guards to force prisoners to surrender has become widespread and systematic.
These practices are considered clear violations of human rights and have irreparable effects on the physical and mental health of prisoners. International human rights organizations have repeatedly expressed their concern about these behaviors and called for an end to these inhumane practices.
To better understand the situation of political prisoners in Iran and the torture they endure, you can watch the video below:
