Dissidents: Iran encourages prison rape

TEHRAN, June 24 (UPI) -- Imprisoned dissidents in Iran say guards are encouraging other inmates to sexually assault them.

The charges were made in letters smuggled out to families and supporters, The Guardian reported. They have been published on opposition Web sites.

Mehdi Mahmoudian, who was arrested after the 2009 presidential election, is being held in Rajaeeshahr, a prison in Karaj 12 miles west of Tehran. His letter was posted on the site of Mir Hossein Mousavi, who ran against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2009.

"In various cells inside the prison, rape has become a common act and acceptable," he said.

Mahmoudian said dissidents are imprisoned with some of the most dangerous criminals. Other inmates say guards have distributed condoms to criminal inmates.

Kristyan Benedict of Amnesty International called for an investigation of the treatment of political prisoners in Iran. She said her organization has documented rapes of both male and female prisoners by security personnel.