JWAN SHARIFZADA

Mahabad — For several years now, channels have appeared on Telegram publishing photos, personal information, phone numbers, and account handles of individuals — mostly young women. These channels have spread across several cities in East Kurdistan, including Mahabad, Bukan, Kamyaran, Sardasht, Saein Qaleh, Urmia, Saqqez, and Lorestan, among others, leaving serious social, familial, and psychological effects on many women.

Although East Kurdistan and Iran are not the only regions where women face this type of digital harassment, the prevailing culture, social pressures, and the way responsible authorities handle such cases make women's suffering in these areas particularly severe.

Manifestations of Misogyny in Law, Family, and Society

Publishing individuals' photos or private information without their consent is a form of digital violence, one that can leave psychological, social, professional, and familial effects on victims. While this harm can affect both women and men, discriminatory norms and social pressures make its impact on women far more severe. In many cases, the law fails to provide adequate protection for women — and can even deepen their suffering.

Bawan Karimi (a pseudonym), one of the women whose photo, name, and phone number were published in 2023 on a Telegram channel called "Timarestan," recounts that she received no real protection despite reporting the matter to the cybercrime police in Mahabad.

She says: "The channel administrator asked me for money in exchange for deleting my photo, and when I went to the cybercrime police, they advised me to pay the money so he would delete the images. The channel was shut down, but the same thing happened again several times, because all that occurred was reporting the channel — without ever arresting the person behind it."

She added that in their early days, these channels received little media or security attention; instead, some authorities advised families to impose tighter control over their daughters and told women not to post photos, share stories, or even use a personal picture for their accounts.

Amid these conditions, society itself contributes to reproducing the violence, as the circulation of photos or the passing of judgment on victims widens the circle of harm — which explains why some of these channels have amassed thousands of followers.

Women's fear is not limited to losing their social standing; it extends to their families' reactions, which often become an even greater source of threat.

In one of the most recent examples, reports indicated that three young women — Asma J., Raha B., and Rihana Gh. — from Lorestan province took their own lives after their photos were published on a Telegram channel.

Shadi M., a women's rights activist, says: "Fear of family — particularly fathers, brothers, or cousins — has driven a number of women to suicide, while others have been beaten or threatened with death by their families. Some have also been denied an education, barred from leaving the house, had their phones confiscated, been divorced, or had total control imposed over their personal lives. In small towns, even the arrest of channel administrators hasn't ended victims' suffering, because stigma and blame persist for years."

The Methods Have Changed, but the Harassment Continues

In many cases, the goal of publishing photos and personal information is to instill shame, fear, and social isolation in the victim, as perpetrators use "reputation" as a tool of control, revenge, or humiliation. Although this form of violence has grown with the spread of the internet, it is not a new phenomenon — victims' photos, private videos, or phone numbers were circulated through various means even before the digital era, with women always bearing the greatest cost.

Sinur W., from Mahabad, says: "Before the internet spread, lists of young men and women's names were compiled with degrading labels, known as the 'black list.' These destroyed many lives, but over time, as they became more widespread, they stopped attracting the same level of attention as before."

The Need for a Revolution in Thought and Beliefs

Phenomena such as the publication of personal photos and videos reflect a culture that treats people's bodies and reputations — particularly women's — as tools for exercising power and domination. Some activists also believe that authorities, especially during sensitive periods, may benefit from stirring up public opinion, or even from managing or directing some of these channels, in order to distract society with peripheral issues.

Regardless of who is behind the spread of these violations, the search for effective ways to confront them has become an urgent necessity. Kajal Kh., a lawyer and social activist, says: "The first step in confronting this type of violation begins with a revolution in mindset. Addressing this phenomenon is not limited to prosecuting those who run these channels — though that is important — but also requires a shift in societal attitudes, greater public awareness, support for victims, and an end to the culture of blaming the victim instead of holding the perpetrator of violence accountable."