An Iranian court has sentenced a man, identified as Hissam, to death after he was found guilty of raping a 12-year-old Afghan girl, according to Iranian media reports.
The incident came to light earlier this year when an Afghan family reported Hissam to the Iranian authorities, accusing him of sexually assaulting their child. The girl’s mother, who worked as a cleaner in Hissam’s home, recounted the harrowing event.
“I went shopping and left my 12-year-old daughter at home alone. When I returned about half an hour later, I noticed she was unwell. When I questioned her, she confided that Hissam had assaulted her,” the mother stated.
Medical examinations confirmed the assault, and Hissam, 34, admitted his guilt in court. “I accept that I made a mistake. I was under the influence of drugs and not in a normal state of mind. When I regained my senses, I found out the mistake I made,” he told the judge.
Iran is hosting highest number of Afghan refugees of any other country in the world.
The country however plans to deport two million Afghan migrants by March 2025.
