Women struggle for a role under Iran's male-dominated Islamic system

Dubbed by Iranian newspapers as the Spider Murders, the serial killings of prostitutes in Mashhad had stirred widespread concern.

The women, ranging in age between 27 and 50, were murdered in almost identical fashion since the outbreak started last July.

Most of them were strangled with their own headscarves knotted at the right side of the neck and then wrapped in their own chadors, the voluminous black cloak worn by many Iranian women.

The judiciary announced that a special taskforce had been formed to get to investigate the murders.

Suspect's denial

Now press reports say a 22-year-old company employee has been arrested after police had monitored his telephone for some time.

The examining judge quoted the suspect as saying he played no direct role in the murders, but he said he was completely in favour of the killings and that society had to be cleansed of corrupt women.

He said he was not a member of any organisation or special group. His interrogation continues.

Women turn to crime

Most of the murdered women had multiple criminal records for drug-dealing and prostitution.

Many of them came from broken marriages with husbands who had themselves become involved in drugs and crime.

The whole affair has highlighted a growing social problem which is becoming increasingly acknowledged in Iran.

Women who fall foul of the system in a male-dominated society often find themselves with no other way to make money and survive.

Prostitution has become widespread, hand-in-hand with worsening economic conditions, rising drug abuse and crime.