An analysis of Iran’s legislative response to child victimization in cyberspace: a criminal policy perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32978/sjp.2025.024Keywords:
child victimization, cyberspace, criminal policy, differential criminalization, supportive penalization, cyber pornographyAbstract
The entry into cyberspace has created risks, especially for children, who are among the most vulnerable. This article evaluates Iran’s criminal policy response to child victimization in cyberspace by analyzing existing laws, their effectiveness, and the strengths and weaknesses of the criminal justice system. It also proposes solutions for improved child protection. Key aspects of reactive criminal policy include special criminalization, global jurisdiction over child cyber pornography, support for NGOs, specialized cybercrime departments, and formal protection measures for child victims. The findings aim to enhance Iran1s approach to cybercrimes against children.
References
ABADI, Abbasmansour, MOEZ, Hadi: Principles and Alternative Effects of Juvenile Criminal Proceedings. J. Islamic L. Resch. 22, 2021, 121.
EHSSANPOUR, Seyed Reza, GHADAMI AZIZABAD, Mosayeb: The Components of the Optimal Preventive Criminal Policy Toward Sexual Victimization of Children in Cyberspace. The Quarterly Journal of Judicial Law Views Vol. 29, No (105), 2024, 5–8. https://dor.isc.ac/dor/20.1001.1.22520007.1403.29. 105.1.8
GHAFARI CHERATI, Saleh, HADI TABAR, Esmaeil, QUDSI, Seyed Ebrahim: Computerized pornography: From causality to prevention. Quarterly Journal of Islamic Human Rights Studies (15), 2018. https://dor.isc.ac/dor/20.1001.1.23225637.1397.7.2.5.6
HAJIDEHABADI, Ahmad, & SALIMI, Ehsan: Principles of Criminalization in Cyberspace (A Critical Approach to the Computer Crime Act). Majlis and Rahbord 21 (80), 2015, 61–88.
ISLAM, Md Zahidul, ZULHUDA, Sonny, MOHD BADROL AFANDI, Nor Hafizah, SHAFY, Mohamed Affan: Ensuring safe cyberspace for children: An analysis of the legal implications of social media usage in Malaysia and Singapore. IIUMLJ Vol. 28, 2020, 395. http://dx.doi.org/10.31436/iiumlj.v28i(S1).591
JALALI FARAHANI, A.: Introduction to the criminal procedure of cybercrimes. 1st ed., Tehran: Khorsandi Publications, 2010.
JAVAHERI, Gholamreza, ESMAEELI, Mahdi, HAJITABAR FIRUZ JAYI, H.: Cyber Pornography: from Theoretical Viewpoint to Models of Criminal Action. Journal of Criminal Law Research 8 (30), 2020, pp. 173–200. https://doi.org/10.22054/jclr.2020.42595.1923
JAVAN JAFFARI, Abdolreza: Cyber Crime and Criminal Law Approach to the Differential (Looking at the Part Computer Crime Law Islamic). Monetary & Financial Economics 17 (34), 2011. https://doi.org/10.22067/pm.v17i34.27358
KAPLAN, Yasar: Cybercrime and Child Protection in Turkey: Challenges and Progress. Turkish Journal of Criminology and Legal Policy Vol. 6, No (3), 2022, 220–221.
KERAMATI MOAZ, Hadi: Victimology of children in virtual networks. 1st ed., Tehran: Dadgostar Publications, 2020.
KERAMATI MOAZ, Hadi, & ZAND RAD MAJID, P.: Iran’s criminal policy regarding victimization of women and children in cyberspace. Andisheh Vakil, 3rd Year, (6), 2024. https://doi.org/10.22034/jccj.2024.462904.1581
KERAMATI MOEZ, Hadi, & MIRKHALILI, Seyedmahmood: Iran’s Legislative Criminal Policy Approach and International Documents to Support Vulnerable Children on Social Media. Police International Studies 11 (41), 2020, 102–125. https://sid.ir/paper/392158/en
KHALEQI, Ali: Notes on criminal procedure law. 5th ed. Tehran: Shahre Danesh Legal Studies and Research Institute, 2015.
LAZERGES, Christian: Introduction to criminal policy. (A. H. Najafi Abrand Abadi, Trans.) 8th ed. Tehran: Mizan Legal Foundation, 2020.
LIVINGSTONE, Sonia, ÓLAFSSON, Kjartan, & POTHONG, Krittiya: Digital play on children’s terms: A child rights approach to designing digital experiences. New Media & Society Vol. 27, No. (3), 2025, 1470. https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448231196579
MIAN, Tariq Saeed, & ALATAWI, Eman M.: Investigating how parental perceptions of cybersecurity influence children’s safety in the cyber world: A case study of Saudi Arabia. Intelligent Information Management Vol. 15, No. 5, 2023, p. 360. https://doi.org/10.4236/iim.2023.155017
MOHSENI, Farid: Criminological theories. 1st ed. Tehran: Judiciary Press and Publications Center, 2018.
NADERI, Hamaseh: The Cyberspace Harms for Children. International Journal of Advanced Research in Humanities and Law Vol. 1, No. 2, 2024, 62–63. https://doi.org/10.63053/ijrel.12
NOORZAD, Mojtaba: Economic crimes in Iranian criminal law. 1st ed. Tehran, Jangal Publications, 2010.
NOURIAN, Alireza: Criminal procedure of cyber and telecommunication crimes. 1st ed., Tehran: Mizan Legal Foundation, 2017.
POURGHAHRAMANI, Babak: Comparative Study of Strategies to Protect Victims of Computer Crimes in the Criminal Law of Iran and International Documents with Emphasis on the Budapest Convention. Criminal Law Research 8 (1), 2017, pp. 1–36. https://doi.org/10.22124/jol.2017.2286
RAHIMI, Hamid: Victim-centered typology of child and adolescent protection in Iranian criminal law. Criminal Justice Newsletter, Criminal Law and Criminology Group, Faculty of Law, Shahid Beheshti University, 2 (4), 2019.
ROUHANI MOGHA, Mohammad, MOUSAVI, Seyed Javad, & AGHAEI BAJESTANI, Mohammad: The process of child victimization in cyberspace with emphasis on economic factors. Strategic Studies of Jurisprudence and Law Vol. 3, No. 4, 2022, 37–53. https://dor.isc.ac/dor/20.1001.1.26767163.1400.3.4.3.8
SHOLIHAH, Hani, NURHAYATI, Sri: Child protection in the digital age through education in the Islamic educational environment. JIE (Journal of Islamic Education) Vol. 9, No. 1, 2024, 210–218. https://doi.org/10.52615/jie.v9i1.353
WHITTLE, Helen, HAMILTON-GIACHRITSIS, Catherine, BEECH, Anthony: A review of online grooming: Characteristics and methods. Aggression and Violent Behavior Vol. 18, No. 1, 2013, 62–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2012.09.003
ZEYNALI, Amirhamzeh: Globalization of criminal law (In the realm of protecting children against victimization). 1st ed., Tehran: Mizan Legal Foundation, 2015.
