Montazeri on the 'Guidance Patrol' Video: It Was Clearly Planned

Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, the Attorney General of Iran, referred to the release of a video showing a girl being beaten by 'Guidance Patrol' officers in Tehran, stating: "Evidence suggests that this incident was planned, and this is evident from the way the video was filmed." The state-run news agency Mizan published Montazeri's remarks during a conference of chief judges and prosecutors across the country on Friday, April 7, but did not specify the timing of the speech. The Attorney General of Iran noted that "there may have been mistakes and violations in the way the police officer issued a warning" and said: "In this incident, some entered with the aim of discrediting the police force and shared the recorded footage on messaging apps with great speed." Last week, a video circulated on social media showing an 'Guidance Patrol' officer attacking a young girl. The release of this video sparked a wave of reactions against the violent behavior of the 'Guidance Patrol.' Several officials from the Islamic Republic, including two vice presidents and several members of parliament, criticized the police officer's behavior, with some labeling the 13-year operation of the 'Guidance Patrol' as "unsuccessful." Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, the Minister of Interior, also called for an investigation into the matter. However, some conservative media outlets or those affiliated with military and security institutions, including Fars News Agency, described the incident as "pre-planned" and "artificial," while Hossein Ashtari, the police chief, labeled the criticisms as "propaganda" and "hysteria," stating: "We will not only not back down but will be more determined to continue our path." Montazeri also criticized "some gentlemen and ladies in parliament and some political currents in publications" who made statements following the release of last week's video, asserting that in response to the unlawful actions of a police officer, "one should refer to the judicial organization of the armed forces." He severely criticized those who "raised their voices to the heavens" in this context, stating that the same individuals remain silent regarding the "insult of an unworthy individual" to the eighth Imam of Shia Muslims. Montazeri's reference was to Amir Hossein Mir Asmaeili, a journalist for the 'Jahan San'at' newspaper, who was accused of "insulting the eighth Imam of Shia Muslims" due to a tweet he posted. Mir Asmaeili's tweet criticized Ahmad Alamolhoda, the Friday prayer leader of Mashhad, and his opposition to holding music concerts in the city. Although he deleted his tweet and emphasized his Shia identity, stating he did not intend to insult and only wanted to criticize Alamolhoda, some who protested against this journalist in Tehran called for his execution. Montazeri stated that he had asked the Tehran prosecutor to pursue this case "from a security perspective" as well. He mentioned that Amir Hossein Mir Asmaeili "intended to flee the country" and said: "The behind-the-scenes of this matter must be examined." Before his arrest on Tuesday, Mir Asmaeili reported that he had been "threatened with acid attacks and murder" due to his tweet. Concurrently with the arrest of this journalist, judicial officials in Ilam Province announced the final confirmation of a five-year prison sentence for an individual accused of insulting the eighth Imam of Shia Muslims last year. One day after the arrest of a journalist in Tehran on charges of "insulting the eighth Imam of Shia Muslims," judicial officials announced the final confirmation of a five-year prison sentence for Ali Mohammad Mohammadi, the head of Hassan Rouhani's electoral headquarters in one of the cities of Ilam Province, on the same charge. Mohammadi, a poet from Ilam, had read a text in May last year that sarcastically questioned why only the Imam is for "principlists" in response to statements made by Ebrahim Raisi. In addition to numerous criticisms from international organizations regarding the suppression of civil liberties in Iran, pressure on media and journalists in Iran has also been condemned repeatedly. Reporters Without Borders, in its latest annual report on "media freedom" in 180 countries, ranked the Islamic Republic of Iran 164th.