Two Children Found in Home Detention in Sanandaj; Father Arrested

The publication of reports regarding the confinement of two young girls in inhumane conditions in a neighborhood of Sanandaj has triggered a wave of concern and widespread public reaction across Kurdistan Province and the Iranian media space.

According to published reports, on Tuesday, June 2, in the Hajiabad neighborhood of Sanandaj, neighbors contacted Social Emergency services after hearing the cries and pleas for help of two children and receiving no response when approaching the house.

Following the report, Social Emergency personnel entered the premises after obtaining a judicial order and coordinating with law enforcement authorities.

Initial investigations revealed that two girls, aged 7 and 15, were being kept in inappropriate and inhumane conditions inside the home's restroom. According to officials, signs of severe physical injuries were also observed on the children's bodies.

The Director-General of the Welfare Organization of Kurdistan Province outlined the condition of the two children, stating that initial examinations revealed multiple fractures and deep injuries to their heads, faces, and legs, indicating continuous physical abuse and torture. According to him, both children were transferred to Kowsar Hospital in Sanandaj for medical treatment.

Hossein Rasouli further stated: "One of the children remains hospitalized and under treatment, while the other, after being discharged from the hospital, has been placed under specialized care at one of the Welfare Organization's facilities." He also announced that expert reports regarding the psychological and behavioral condition of the parents had been submitted to judicial authorities, emphasizing that the case would be pursued with utmost seriousness under the Law for the Protection of Children and Adolescents.

Meanwhile, the Chief Justice of Kurdistan Province, referring to the results of the initial investigations, stated that signs of severe assault and fractures were evident across various parts of the two children's bodies and that their physical condition required immediate medical attention.

The Chief Justice also announced that the father of the two girls had been arrested and remanded to prison under a temporary detention order on charges of child abuse. Furthermore, the children's stepmother has been summoned to the Sanandaj Prosecutor's Office on charges of complicity in child abuse, and the process of reviewing the allegations against her is underway.

The news has resonated widely among the public, with many social media users expressing anger and sorrow over the incident and demanding a decisive and transparent judicial review of the case. Criticism has also been directed at the failure of mechanisms designed to identify and support vulnerable children, while social activists have emphasized the need to strengthen support systems and effectively enforce laws intended to protect children and adolescents.