Makarem Shirazi's Call for 'Promotion of Virtue' Education in Schools

Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, a Shia religious authority, has called for the establishment of 'Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice' patrols and for this subject to be taught in 'all educational levels'. He stated that if a ministry is formed for this purpose, 'it would not be surprising'. According to ISNA news agency, Mr. Makarem Shirazi said in a speech on Sunday, March 14, that 'Promotion of Virtue is everyone's right, not an obligation, because my child is also in the street; if a young person is addicted, my child will be contaminated, so this is a right and it must be claimed'. He added, 'Some say that if Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice is implemented, it will lead to conflict; which conflict? Initially, with utmost politeness and dignity, Promotion of Virtue can be implemented. If this stage does not work, the next stage is a stronger confrontation, and if it leads to conflict, the law exists to resolve these issues.' This religious authority emphasized that 'Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice patrols must be established in society' and this subject should be 'discussed in all educational levels so that children... get accustomed to it'. Previously, some prominent Shia clerics, including Hossein Nouri Hamedani, had called for the establishment of a ministry for 'Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice'. In recent years, 'Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice' has been more associated with social freedoms and issues like hijab in the Islamic Republic. In this context, on October 8, 2014, despite government opposition, the parliament approved the generalities of the 'Support for Promoters of Virtue and Preventers of Vice' plan. Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, had not communicated this law and in a letter to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic requested a 'halt' to its implementation for reviewing 'the government's concerns'. However, with Mr. Rouhani's letter referred to the arbitral body of power, this body ultimately ruled in favor of the parliament. Based on this law, a headquarters called 'Headquarters for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice' was formed, headed by Ahmad Jannati, the Secretary of the Guardian Council and a temporary Friday prayer leader in Tehran, and is currently active. Last year, the issue of establishing mobile 'Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice' patrols by Ansar Hezbollah was a topic of verbal confrontations between this group and the Ministry of Interior for months. Eventually, Saeed Montazer al-Mahdi, the social deputy of the police, announced that this group had reconsidered its activities regarding mobile 'Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice' patrols and it was decided to use 'the existing official frameworks and capacities of the system' for its goals.