The attackers, aged between 24 and 46, were arrested shortly after the incident by local law enforcement.
Berlin:
A 30-year-old Iranian dissident has been gang-raped in Germany by four men believed to be supporters of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a report says. The attack, which took place Saturday evening at an abandoned brewery in the North Rhine-Westphalia town of Iserlohn, is being treated as a politically motivated crime, according to reports from Der Spiegel and other German media.
The attackers, aged between 24 and 46, were arrested shortly after the incident by local law enforcement, who deployed helicopters and several patrol units to conduct a rapid search in the nearby forest. One of the suspects was injured while trying to escape. According to local media, witnesses alerted authorities after hearing the victim's screams, leading to the discovery of the man in a state of severe violence, tied up and in need of medical attention.
German investigators confirmed that the attack was not only brutal but also had a political message. The victim, an Iranian refugee known for his opposition to the Tehran regime, was targeted for “sexual humiliation.”
The attackers are reported to be ardent supporters of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
This latest attack follows a trend of Iranian dissidents being targeted in other countries. Earlier this year, an Iranian dissident in the Netherlands narrowly escaped an assassination attempt. Other incidents include the stabbing of Iran International presenter Pouria Zeraati in London and threats against Iranian journalists in the UK.