Prominent Iranian dissident Masih Alinejad has criticized the inadequate response from organizations and women's rights activists to Hamas' violence against Israeli women.

Alinejad drew attention to the parallel with sexual assault by agents of the Islamic Republic against detained Iranian protesters.

"If we do not unite now, terrorists will certainly commit more sexual assaults against women," warned Alinejad. Expressing confusion over the lack of global solidarity in condemning the Hamas attacks, she pointed out the importance of a united front against such atrocities.

Hamas gunmen sexually assaulted dozens of women during their October 7 attack on Israel and took scores hostage. Reports say that many of the female hostages have been raped in Gaza.

Alinejad highlighted a distressing similarity in the treatment of protesters by the Islamic Republic, citing incidents following the murder of Mahsa Amini at the hands of morality police. She emphasized that rape should never be used as a weapon of war and stressed the urgency of international unity to prevent further victimization.

Protesters who experienced sexual harassment and assault during the 2022 anti-government movement in Iran have shared their harrowing stories with Iran International. Both female and male victims, some as young as eighteen, revealed the widespread nature of sexual violence against detained protesters.

The US Department of State condemned reports of sexual assault against protesters, denouncing the Iranian regime's systematic use of sexual violence to “instill fear and silence victims as reprehensible.” The department praised the courage of Iranians standing against such actions and called for global support against such acts.