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Complaints expose abuse in Iranian schools

A number of high-profile cases of sexual and physical abuse by school authorities points to the failure of the school system and government in Iran to properly address and educate on the issue.
Iranian school girls move to safe places as they take part in an earthquake drill in Tehran November 29, 2008. REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl (IRAN) - RTR2230X

The emergence of a series of horrifying stories about minors being sexually and physically abused by their teachers or headmasters in schools and kindergartens has once again raised public concerns about students’ security in Iranian schools, where the education system has Islamic underpinnings.

“Our son is an elementary school student. A few days ago, we realized that his behavior had changed, and we became suspicious,” read an official complaint filed by the parents of a young student against the headmaster of an elementary school in west Tehran. “After speaking with our son, we realized that he has been harassed by the headmaster at school.” Following these events, a warrant was issued, and the 33-year-old headmaster was arrested on May 9. The Mehr News Agency reported on his trial.

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