Also available in Persian — نسخه فارسی EN فا
❓ Unknown

Response of Police Chief to the Release of 'Thugs' Video

Jan 31, 2026 January 31, 2026 2 min read 📰 Radio Farda
📋 Key Takeaway

The police chief of Iran, Hosseini Ashtari, responded to the release of videos showing police misconduct and individuals labeled as 'thugs,' asserting that the footage is outdated and that many offenders have already been dealt with. This comes amid recent arrests of individuals featured in the videos and warnings from police against imitation by youth. The situation highlights ongoing concerns about law enforcement and public safety in Iran.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The release of controversial videos has sparked a defensive response from Iranian police, highlighting ongoing tensions over law enforcement practices.

👥 Key Players

Hosseini Ashtari MENTIONED
Commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran's police force
"As the head of Iran's police, Ashtari plays a crucial role in law enforcement and public security, influencing how police actions are perceived and managed."
Reza Enayati MENTIONED
Provincial police chief of Mazandaran
"Enayati is responsible for law enforcement in Mazandaran, a region highlighted in the recent controversy over the videos."
Ebrahim Raisi MENTIONED
Attorney General of Iran
"Raisi's involvement underscores the legal and judicial response to the issue, reflecting the government's stance on public security."

📰 What Happened

Iran's police chief responded to the release of videos showing police misconduct and individuals labeled as 'thugs,' asserting that the footage is outdated and offenders have been addressed. This follows recent arrests of individuals featured in the videos.

  • Videos showing alleged 'thugs' and police misconduct were released on social media.
  • Iranian police officials claim the videos are old and offenders have been dealt with.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: The incident highlights public concerns about police conduct and the government's handling of social security issues.
🌍 Regional: It reflects broader regional challenges in maintaining public order amidst social unrest.
🌐 International: International observers may view this as indicative of human rights and governance issues within Iran.

📚 Background

Iran has faced criticism over police conduct and public security, with social media playing a role in exposing alleged misconduct.

Police misconduct in Iran Social media's role in governance
📡 Source: STATE MEDIA
📊 Confidence: 70%
The Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) is a state-affiliated media outlet, likely reflecting the government's perspective.

Hosseini Ashtari, the commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran's police force, reacted on Wednesday, February 7, to the issue of the release of images of individuals he referred to as 'thugs' and broadcasts of police misconduct. According to the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA), Ashtari assessed the broadcast of images related to police misconduct in previous years as 'biased' and stated that these images are not new and that 'action was taken against the offenders at that time.' Recently, short videos of individuals referred to as 'thugs of Mazandaran' were published on social media; this issue prompted a reaction from law enforcement officials in Mazandaran province. Reza Enayati, the provincial police chief, warned the youth against imitating these individuals, stating that in such cases, the police would take action against them. The commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran's police stated that many of the individuals present in these videos have been identified and arrested, and their cases are in the judicial authorities. Speaking on the sidelines of a police, psychology, and counseling conference, Ashtari emphasized the 'oldness' of the videos showing individuals engaging in 'rowdy behavior and using foul language,' stating: 'Many of the individuals present in them have been identified and arrested, and their cases are in the judicial authorities.' He also announced actions against individuals who distribute these videos. The police chief's reaction comes just a day after the news of the arrest of eight individuals who appeared in these images. The arrest and display of individuals known as 'thugs' was reported by Masoud Jafari, the police chief of Mazandaran, on February 6, who announced that an internal group conflict among those he called the 'thugs of Mazandaran' had erupted, stating that this conflict could be beneficial for the police in identifying them. The news of these arrests comes at a time when Ebrahim Raisi, the Attorney General of Iran, on Wednesday, February 7, announced a 'decisive' pursuit of the arrest of individuals he referred to as 'some wicked individuals disrupting social security.'

🌐

Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

📰 Related Coverage

⚖️ Independent Platform — Artesh.com is not affiliated with any government, military, or political organization. Editorial Policy →