Police Commander's Reaction to a Woman Being Beaten by Guidance Patrol: We Will Not Back Down from Hoochigari

Despite criticism over the violent treatment of a woman by a "Guidance Patrol" officer, the commander of the Islamic Republic's police stated that the police will not be influenced by "hoo-chigari" (hysteria) and will support forces carrying out their "legal" duties. According to Tasnim News Agency, Hossein Ashtari, the commander of NAJA, emphasized at a conference of "Public Security Police Chiefs" on Tuesday that "moral security plans" are being pursued seriously, stating: "We will not back down in executing missions due to atmosphere creation and hoo-chigari." The police commander also described the police as the "guardian of the values of the system and revolution" and said: "We are prepared to protect these values and will not back down even if we come under attack." His remarks come amid ongoing criticism of the assault by Guidance Patrol officers on a young girl due to her "hijab." The release of a video of this incident has sparked widespread reactions from political figures and social media users. Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, the Minister of Interior, has also called for an investigation into the matter, and several members of parliament have assessed the 13-year performance of the Guidance Patrol as "unsuccessful." However, some conservative media outlets or those affiliated with military and security institutions, including Fars News Agency, have described the incident as "pre-planned" and "artificial." The police spokesperson had expressed regret over the behavior of the Guidance Patrol officer, but the police commander on Tuesday labeled the criticisms as "atmospheric creation" and "hoo-chigari," stating: "Not only will we not back down, but we will be more determined to continue our path." Tayebeh Siawoshi, a member of parliament, recently announced that the officer in question has been "suspended"; however, Hossein Ashtari emphasized in his remarks that the police "supports those who perform their roles based on legal duties." Sadegh Amoli Larijani, the head of the judiciary, also stated that despite the criticisms regarding the beating of a girl by a Guidance Patrol officer, the police "should not take a single step back." According to Larijani, "no one should be allowed to resist the legal actions of the police or insult an officer." Additionally, Ahmad Alamolhoda, the Friday prayer leader of Mashhad, criticized the reactions of government officials and members of parliament to this incident, stating that "the minister and the lawyer are going to complain that an insult was made to a woman without a hijab." Meanwhile, Parvaneh Salahshouri, the head of the Women’s Faction in Parliament, has called for a documented report on the results of the 13-year performance of the Guidance Patrol, and Zahra Saei, another member of parliament, has stated that the new generation no longer accepts the Guidance Patrol. While the NAJA commander announces the continuation of the "moral security enhancement" plan with strength, Shahnaz Sajadi, a special assistant for citizen rights in the Women and Family Affairs Department of the Presidency, has criticized this plan. According to Sajadi, "in the social security enhancement plan, it seems that only serious confrontation has been made with women." She also criticized that in the resolution of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, the comprehensive plan for chastity and hijab, the boundaries of chastity and hijab and the determination of instances of "bad hijab" have been entrusted to the police as law enforcement. This official from the Women and Family Affairs Department of the Presidency sarcastically pointed out that in the social security plan, no "Guidance Patrol or similar patrols" have been created to reduce many serious and dangerous crimes, including theft, exploitation of working children and street harassment of women. These statements come at a time when, in addition to the violent confrontation with this young girl by the Guidance Patrol officer, Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer, reported that a 48-year-old woman named Minou Hassanabadi was also violently arrested for protesting against the beating of this girl, and a legal case has been opened against her. According to Sotoudeh, the "Guidance Patrol" officers beat this woman in response to her warning and transferred her to the NAJA detention center on Vezara Street. The police's violent actions against the phenomenon of "bad hijab" in Iran have increased following public protests against mandatory hijab by a group of women known as the "Girls of Revolution Street."