Police Chief: Preventing Women's Attendance at Concerts and Stadiums is Our Innate Duty

The commander of Iran's police stated that the law enforcement agency has acted in accordance with its "innate and religious duty" by preventing women from entering stadiums or canceling certain music concerts. Some religious authorities, such as Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani and Naser Makarem Shirazi, have also called for the prohibition of music concerts and women's entry into stadiums. On Saturday, June 13, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) published a report on the statements of Hossein Ashtari, the commander of Iran's police, during a meeting with Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, emphasizing that the actions of law enforcement in canceling concerts and preventing women's attendance at stadiums were their "innate duty." He stated, "Some criticize the police for preventing women from attending concerts and stadiums, while some concerts are not even legally permitted to be held." Ashtari added, "If we prevent attendance at concerts and stadiums, it is based on our innate and religious duty because we live in an Islamic country, and safeguarding values is considered our innate responsibility." These remarks come after reports of the cancellation of several concerts in recent days, including a concert by Kayhan Kalhor and a concert by the group 'Mastan' featuring Parvaz Homay. The issue of women's presence in stadiums has also provoked strong reactions from conservative groups, to the extent that Ansar Hezbollah and a group of seminary students from the Irovan seminary issued a statement threatening that if women attend the stadium to watch a volleyball match, they should expect a "bloody" confrontation from them. Makarem Shirazi stated that women's presence in stadiums and holding music concerts are "unnecessary" and cause "division." According to the news website Tabnak, Makarem Shirazi told the police chief, "People are upset about these issues and ask why a stance is not taken on this matter, so what necessity is there to raise these issues in the current situation and stir up division?" Meanwhile, Shahindokht Molaverdi, the Iranian Vice President, announced that the minutes for women's entry into volleyball halls had been signed by representatives of the police, the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Sports and Youth, and is now awaiting the approval of the Minister of Sports and Youth. Safi Golpayegani also called for preventing "corruption" such as concerts. The spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance also protested the police's action in canceling music concerts, stating that the responsibility for issuing or canceling concert permits does not lie with the police. Nonetheless, Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani confirmed the police's action, deeming music concerts as "corruption and against Islamic law." According to IRNA, Golpayegani stated during a meeting with the police chief, "Preventing corruption and anti-Islamic scenes, such as concerts, is the duty of the police and other Islamic system organizations." Meanwhile, President Hassan Rouhani emphasized in his press conference on Saturday that the police's action in canceling music concerts was a "violation of people's rights."