Tehran Governorate: We Have No Information on the Scope of the Covert Patrols

The Deputy Security of the Tehran Governorate emphasized the necessity of a "plan currently being implemented by the Tehran Police," adding that there has been no coordination with the governorate regarding this matter and that the governorate has concerns that need to be clarified. According to ISNA news agency, Mohsen Nasj Hamdani stated on April 21 that "social and moral security" in Iran is "a necessity." He also referred to the police's new plan regarding "covert patrols" that are aimed at what is called "moral security," stating that "one should not expect the implementation of certain plans to succeed without cooperation and coordination with other security agencies of the government." According to this official, the Tehran Governorate, as the "responsible body for social and security affairs," has no information about the "dimensions and components" of the police's new plan, and the Tehran governor has been working on necessary coordination and obtaining relevant reports on behalf of the people for several days. Mr. Nasj Hamdani emphasized that before the implementation of the police's new plan regarding what is called "moral security," the concerns of the Tehran Governorate must be clarified, and "it should not be allowed for this plan to be misinterpreted or misused." Last Tuesday, the Tehran Police Chief announced that seven thousand "agents" would monitor citizens under the guise of what is called "covert moral security patrols." According to the Tehran Police, the task of these individuals is to "report license plates of vehicles" that, according to him, have "unveiled" or create disturbances for "women." Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, in response to the recent plan, stated that the "first duty" of the government towards the people is to "respect their personality, status, and dignity" because "this dignity precedes religion." Mohsen Nasj Hamdani also emphasized on April 21 that "while respecting the principle of such plans," based on the opinion of the Minister of Interior and the Deputy Security-Administrative of that ministry, the Tehran Governorate "deems it necessary to examine how this plan is implemented and respond to some concerns." The Tehran Police have not yet reacted to the statements of the Deputy Security of the Tehran Governorate. Every year, with the arrival of summer and the increase in heat in Iran, the police intensify plans that this organization claims aim to maintain "moral security."