Police Reaction to Video of Driver Being Beaten by Officers

The Islamic Republic's Law Enforcement Force reacted to the release of a video showing a driver being beaten by its officers, announcing that two conscripts and an officer who "witnessed the scene" have been subjected to "demotion" and "waiting for duty" until the final determination is made. According to Iranian news agencies, Saeed Montazer al-Mahdi, spokesperson for the Law Enforcement Force, stated on Saturday, November 13, without providing details, that this incident occurred in one of the central cities of the country. He also accused the beaten driver of being drunk and exhibiting "dangerous and abnormal behaviors" due to a lack of "mental balance" while driving, claiming he did not heed the officers' stop order. Mr. Montazer al-Mahdi described the actions of the Law Enforcement officers in this incident as "disgusting, unconventional, contrary to moral values, and behavioral and managerial standards." In recent days, a video has circulated on social media depicting the beating of a driver at a gas station by Law Enforcement officers. The footage suggests that two Law Enforcement vehicles were pursuing this car, and as soon as it stopped, four officers forcibly removed the driver from the vehicle and repeatedly threw him towards the car in a violent manner, causing him to fall to the ground after colliding with the vehicle. This video has received significant attention on social media in recent days. However, while the Law Enforcement spokesperson attributed the beating solely to the conscripts, all four officers seen in the video participated in the assault. The Iranian police spokesperson also apologized to citizens, stating that the Law Enforcement Force "will make every effort to prevent such incidents from recurring." Previously, reports of citizens being beaten by Law Enforcement officers had been published, and this force claimed to have dealt with its errant personnel. For instance, in June of last year, after reports emerged about the beating of a car wash owner in Majidieh, Tehran, Hossein Ashtari, the commander of the Law Enforcement Force, announced that the precinct chief and three officers who had beaten the individual were referred to court. However, the Law Enforcement Force has previously denied most videos and reports regarding the violent behavior of its officers and the beating of citizens participating in political and social gatherings.