Sunday, December 4, 2022

Iran abolishes morality police amid Mahsa Amini protests - report - Jerusalem Post Staff

 

by Jerusalem Post Staff

This comes after the ongoing protests erupted across the country about the death of Mahsa Amini two months ago, who was arrested by Iranian morality police.

 

Morality police take down the name of a detained woman during a crackdown on "social corruption" in north Tehran, June 18, 2008. (photo credit: REUTERS/STRINGER/FILE PHOTO)
Morality police take down the name of a detained woman during a crackdown on "social corruption" in north Tehran, June 18, 2008.
(photo credit: REUTERS/STRINGER/FILE PHOTO)

Iran has abolished its morality police, AFP reported citing Iran's Attorney General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri.

This comes after the ongoing protests erupted across the country about the death of Mahsa Amini two months ago, who was arrested by Iranian morality police for allegedly violating Iran's strict dress code for women. 

Iran's morality police

The morality police, also known as the Guidance Patrol, were founded in 2005 under the administration of president Mahmoud Ahmadinijad and serve as a religious police, reporting directly to Supreme Leader Ali Khamennei. 

The typical unit consists of a van with a mixed male and female crew that patrols or waits at busy public spaces to police behavior and dress considered improper.

A police motorcycle burns during a protest over the death of Mahsa Amini, a woman who died after being arrested by the Islamic republic's ''morality police'', in Tehran, Iran, September 19, 2022. (credit: WANA (WEST ASIA NEWS AGENCY) VIA REUTERS)A police motorcycle burns during a protest over the death of Mahsa Amini, a woman who died after being arrested by the Islamic republic's ''morality police'', in Tehran, Iran, September 19, 2022. (credit: WANA (WEST ASIA NEWS AGENCY) VIA REUTERS)

In an anonymous interview with the BBC, one officer spoke plainly about his work as a member of the morality police. 

"They told us the reason we are working for the morality police units is to protect women," he said. "Because if they do not dress properly, then men could get provoked and harm them."

"It's like we are going out for a hunt," he confessed. 

The officer also told the BBC that he found it especially difficult when citizens resisted arrest: "They expect us to force them inside the van. Do you know how many times I was in tears while doing it?

"I want to tell them I am not one of them. Most of us are ordinary soldiers going through our mandatory military service. I feel so bad."


Jerusalem Post Staff

Source: https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-724020

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