Iranian Police Declares Entry of Law Enforcement Officers into Private Beaches 'Permissible'

While the head of the Ethical Security Police has stated that the entry of law enforcement officers into private beaches for inspection is free, Mahmoud Sadeghi, a representative of Tehran in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, claims that this can only occur with a judicial order. According to a report by IRNA on Tuesday, June 30, quoting Gholam-Hossein Heydari, the head of the Ethical Security Police, the entry of law enforcement officers into private beaches located along the Caspian Sea and other beaches in Iran is permitted for inspection. This police official stated, 'Private beaches that provide public services to travelers are not considered private property, and law enforcement officers have no legal restrictions for entering them, similar to other locations.' However, Mahmoud Sadeghi, a lawyer and member of parliament, stated on Wednesday, June 31, to the House of Parliament News Agency that 'according to regulations, law enforcement officers are not allowed to enter private beaches located along the Caspian Sea and other beaches in Iran without a judicial order unless such an order is issued by a judicial authority.' Mr. Sadeghi emphasized that 'private beaches located along the coasts are considered private property.' The head of the Ethical Security Police, however, announced that according to the 'new program of the police this year,' owners of private beaches must be 'accountable for social problems and incidents at these locations.' Mr. Heydari mentioned that the police will inform beach managers of this new program. In contrast, Mahmoud Sadeghi told the House of Parliament News Agency that 'the police cannot compromise public security without a prosecutor's order.' According to this member of parliament, 'law enforcement officers must have a separate and specific order to enter any beach.' Mahmoud Sadeghi also stated: 'These police methods are not accountable and should therefore be used as a last resort.' Nevertheless, the head of the Ethical Security Police defended the implementation of the 'sea purification plan in Mazandaran in recent years,' emphasizing the 'reduction of social anomalies' and 'increasing traveler satisfaction.' Iskandar Momeni, the deputy commander of the police, also reported a 12% increase in police capacity in the purification plan, stating: 'Five thousand people are cooperating in this plan.' The 'sea purification plan' is implemented annually from the beginning of summer on the northern and southern coasts of Iran. One of the declared objectives of this plan is to deal with cases that the Islamic Republic's law enforcement calls 'improper hijab and norm-breaking.' The sea purification plan has been implemented on the Mazandaran beaches of the Caspian Sea since summer 2013, which, according to officials, has resulted in a reduction of over 70% in drowning deaths compared to 2012. In this context, over 700 'norm-breakers' have been arrested on the beaches of Iran despite environmental warnings, tourists are going to Ashuradeh, and the forensic medicine department of Mazandaran province reported a 45% increase in drowning statistics in the Caspian Sea.