Interior Minister Defends Violent Actions of 'Noor Plan' Officers; Police Acted According to Regulations

One day after the Islamic Republic police announced that they had dealt with a 'misbehaving' officer who had beaten a woman under the pretext of enforcing hijab, the Minister of Interior of Ebrahim Raisi's government defended the actions of police officers, stating: 'The case published on social media regarding the misconduct of the police has been misrepresented' and 'the police acted according to regulations.' Ahmad Vahidi referred to a video that was recently released showing several police officers violently attempting to transfer a woman into a 'Guidance Patrol' van, during which the woman resisted, causing her clothing to be torn off, and the officers forcibly transferred her into the vehicle using a blanket. In recent days, the violence of the Islamic Republic's officers against women in the streets of Iranian cities due to civil disobedience against mandatory hijab has continued to make headlines; including the release of a video showing a police officer beating a woman, which has sparked reactions on social media. A video shared on social media shows the violent behavior of a police officer towards a woman, who, while saying 'Don't hit me, my neck is broken,' continues to be assaulted and is violently thrown into the vehicle. The release of this video and similar images of government forces' violence against women to enforce mandatory hijab has led to reactions on social media. Notably, Ali Karimi, a prominent sports figure in Iran, shared this video and sarcastically referred to the Islamic Republic's propaganda about handling civil protests in America, writing: 'What about these scenes? Did you see in America?!' In response to the release of this video and widespread criticism of the police officer's actions, the police information center stated that the 'offending officer' acted 'illegally and inappropriately,' but at the same time warned citizens 'like the arrested woman' to 'comply with the law and the arrest order.' However, Ali Mojtahedzadeh, a lawyer, wrote on social media that 'given the repetition and multiplicity of violent behaviors by the Guidance Patrol agents towards citizens, one cannot consider the officers' actions merely as individual errors and resolve the issue by punishing and suspending one or several officers.' This legal expert emphasized that 'the continuation of such behaviors could lead society towards violent confrontation between citizens and the police.' While numerous images of violent confrontations between the police and citizens, especially women and girls, are transmitted daily on social media, armed robberies continue to disrupt the comfort and security of citizens in cities. In this context, Alireza Vahabzadeh, a social journalist, published an image of armed robbers in a house, writing: 'Imagine sitting in your home in Tehran at seven in the evening, when several armed individuals enter your apartment, put a gun to your four-year-old daughter's head, take the earrings and gold from your wife and children, take the children's holiday money, and finally imprison them in a room before going to the next house. Will this child ever be free of fear for the rest of her life?' In reaction to this news, one user on social media reminded that Ahmad Reza Radan, the commander of the Islamic Republic police, 'goes from this province to that province' and during speeches 'holds a carnival in support of the Guidance Patrol,' writing that 'his time is full'; meanwhile, the Islamic Republic's state television also airs images claiming 'police violence in America.' Another photo report has also been shared on social media showing government officers during the arrest of a woman who did not comply with the mandatory hijab, removing her clothing and wrapping her with a blanket from the police van to detain her. The release of images depicting the violent behavior of Islamic Republic officials towards women, under the 'Noor Plan,' which began following a command from Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, and has been ongoing since April 14 across Iran, has also sparked reactions in international forums. Among these, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, in a statement referring to the increasing repression of women and girls in Iran due to 'defiance' of mandatory hijab laws, has called for more sanctions against Islamic Republic officials, including intelligence officials of this regime. Previously, Voice of America reported in an exclusive story including the account of a police officer that Islamic Republic officials even film police officers during the implementation of the Noor Plan to control them and prevent the spread of dissatisfaction and rebellion.