Commander of the Women's Special Unit Says 'Controlling Sports Gatherings' is This Force's First Mission

The commander of the 'Women's Special Unit of the Police' stated on Monday, December 24, that the 'first mission of the women's special unit is to control sports gatherings.' This comes after previous interviews without a face with Colonel Fatemeh Heydari, regarding the missions of the women's special unit in arresting female leaders during the nationwide protests of 2022, where she claimed that the main mission of this unit, established after the 2022 protests, was 'security' and controlling 'social unrest or illegal gatherings in the country.' However, this time, Fatemeh Heydari appeared in a new interview with the government news agency ISNA on the occasion of 'Government Women's Day.' Heydari explained the 'rescue' and 'security provision' roles of this unit in stadiums without mentioning the unit's role in the daily repression of female political prisoners or the arrest of citizens opposing mandatory hijab. The police commander stated that 'in games where female athletes or spectators are present, my colleagues carry out all security measures from the moment women enter the stadiums until they exit.' She also claimed that 'public assistance and rescue' is the second mission of the women's police in the 'special unit.' Heydari introduced the presence of the women's special unit in the government Arbaeen march and the pilgrimage of pilgrims to the borders of Iraq as examples of the unit's recent activities. Previously, Heydari had stated that 'the duties of the women in the unit include identifying and arresting female leaders and instigators, as well as escorting the accused.' She emphasized that 'these actions are carried out as support forces alongside male officers. Due to Sharia restrictions, the arrest of female suspects is specifically assigned to these forces.' The women's special unit of the Islamic Republic's Law Enforcement has played a role in suppressing women's protests in recent years, especially during the 2022 uprising, which was accompanied by the slogan 'Women, Life, Freedom.' During this period, reports of violent encounters between security forces and protesters, including women, were published. Amnesty International reported that Iranian security forces used rape and various forms of sexual violence as tools to suppress protesters during the protests. Additionally, the UN fact-finding committee has deemed the repression of women in Iran as a crime against humanity.