Thesis:

Criminal Protection of Minors Against Sexual Assaults in Iranian Criminal Law and Twelver Shi’a Jurisprudence with an Approach Based on Criminal Psychology

Children and minors, due to their physical and psychological vulnerability and lack of self-defense abilities, are among the most susceptible groups in society to sexual crimes. Sexual assaults against minors not only constitute a grave violation of their human dignity but also leave profound and often irreparable effects on the victims’ psychological and social well-being. This research, employing a descriptive–analytical approach, examines the criminal protection of minors against sexual assaults within Iranian criminal law and Twelver Shi’a jurisprudence, while also utilizing insights from criminal psychology to provide a deeper understanding of the phenomenon. In the jurisprudential section, based on the Qur’an, Sunnah, and the opinions of Imami jurists, emphasis is placed on the principle of maximum protection for minors and the aggravation of penalties for perpetrators of sexual assault. In the legal section, Iranian criminal laws — particularly the Islamic Penal Code and the Law on the Protection of Children and Adolescents — are analyzed, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. The findings show that although Iran’s legal system has taken significant steps toward the criminal protection of minors, gaps remain in areas such as prevention, psychological support for victims, and the proportionality of punishments. Finally, drawing upon the perspective of criminal psychology, the study proposes practical solutions to enhance criminal protection and reduce the occurrence .of such crimes

Keywords: Sexual assault, criminal protection, forensic psychology, minors