Judge and Police Chief are Mobsters
If we have not learned anything during the past 30 years, we certainly have learned that empty vessels make the most noise. So anyone who shouts “morals, morals” or “Islam, Islam” the loudest is hiding something. But what Mr Zarei has done - supported by judge Saeed Mortezavi who is the murderer of journalist Zahra Kazemi – is nothing other than covering scandals with a tub not just a small pan: the tub of exposure.
Many years ago we had a tenant on the above floor of our small house whom everybody in the neighborhood had been fed up with. She was a prostitute. Day in day out men like Zarei visited her. One day we quietly complained to her. She turned red, and then pale and said. “These men are my brothers and cousins!”
So one day we finally decided to raise the issue with the local police. After all how many brothers and cousins could she have! On the way, we met a friend and told him where we were going, and why. He laughed and said, “You are very naïve. These men know very well what is going on.” When we asked why did they not do anything about such things in an Islamic country, he said with a deeper laugh, “Because they are all one and the same. If you protest, they will openly support it, and thus erase whatever respect may exist.”
“So what should we do,” we asked in bewilderment. And his answer I will never forget: “You can be certain that she is more resilient than the men. It’s best to talk to her and get her to agree to vacate your building.”
And that is exactly what we did. She packed up her things and left. But as she was leaving she held my mother in her arms and said, “I am ashamed in view of your decency. Forgive me for I am trapped by these brothers!”
And now one of those very ‘brothers’, who put on a mask to ‘protect society’ and has, under the protection of darkness, arrested many residents of this city [a reference to the security plan that was implemented in Tehran], has been trapped with prostitutes who were engaged in congregational prayers while naked. No, he was not trapped, he was in fact exposed. And with this expose, one can see the lack of any self-respect in these men. One can say, “You should face death because you have traveled from Friday prayers at Tehran University to a Friday prayer led by Zareis, with support from Mortezavis. One could even say …. . Let’s not go there now.
What is most disturbing and painful about this episode is not that these men have been exposed, but the conditions under which the people of our country live where their security and protection lie in the hands of people like Mortezavis and the Zareis. People who will have to face Mortezavi if their daily life takes them to the court system or the judiciary, or to Zarei if they have to deal with the police, or to other offices where the names of their authorities we do not know. But they are not unknown to the Islamic Republic. Many of these people with similar financial or sex scandals and cases – such as Saeed Mortezavi – have been brought on board into the system and they have enriched it with their own sleaze.
A friend used to say, “Remain silent. Do not write about Zarei.” And when I asked why, he enlightened with, “If they would decide on even mildly punishing people such as Zarei because you insist, they would release him on bail and then silently give him another responsibility. After all, they need these people.” This is a sad state of affairs, is it not?
But my answer to this is that “God help those who do not know that as the number of thugs and mobsters grows – as is the case – it is those in high office who are under threat the most. When Mortezavis increase in number they will give orders to Zaeris to surrender their own daughters to them. If Zaeris increase in number – which is the case under Ahmadinejad’s administration –then they will expose you in the presence of Friday prayers. The unity between Mortezavis and Zareis has no outcome for the Iranian nation other than destruction and insecurity. But in an Iran that is unsafe and destroyed, the best place that you will get is a small place to decorate the prayer spot for these gentlemen and other exposed Friday prayer goers [Note that Zarei was arrested while he was in the presence of six naked prostitutes in a house while he had forced them to engage in prayers while naked!].
If any self respect and dignity still exist, if any humane values still survive in your body, issue the order to round up all Mortezavis and Zareis.
And my last word: Every night of my life in this diaspora, I think of girls who are entrapped by these men. I think of adolescents who are trapped. I think of children whose teeth have been pulled out to enhance the scandalous corruption and sleaze practiced by these men.
I prey that God ends these nightmares we go through.