Kahrizak Prison was a Minor Mistake

Speaking at a news conference on Sunday, Iran’s deputy chief of police Ahmad-Reza Radan disclosed the installation of 400 new surveillance cameras in Tehran while calling the atrocities committed at the recently shut down Kahrizak prison in the capital because of  murders and rapes, a “minor mistake.”

In the press conference General Radan unveiled a new societal-security plan and said, “Because of the recent post-election period, we had decided it would be prudent to not implement this new plan for a while, but this short lapse is no reason to completely end the plan. Currently, societal security is pursued at the priority level of each province. In some provinces the priority may be to deal with rogues while in another with ethical issues. The focus of the police, however and in view of what has taken place in the country since the June 12 presidential elections, is something else.”

Expanding on the societal security plan, Radan said, “Unfortunately in the days following the elections, parts of this plan were pushed to the side, but the plan will resume. Under the plan, we shall continue to confront those who violate the dress code. This will include those who wear ties and bows, and those manufacturing units and outlets where products that do not meet the standards are made available. This is among the most important parts of the plan.”

Talking about the security closed-circuit cameras, Radan said, “The police aims to institutionalize an unapparent presence for the sense of security and peace and in this light the installation of surveillance cameras can be effective. Some 400 cameras have been planned to be installed in Tehran of which 200 have already been installed while the police continues to install the remaining ones.”

Regarding the violations that have taken place at the Kahrizak prison by the police, Radan said, “At the outset I would like to thank the police personnel for their role in the recent events. I say this because I feel that their work has been forgotten. Basij and law enforcement personnel act only on the belief that the principle of Velayat Faghih (rule of the clerics) is unshakeable. There have certainly been some minor mistakes in implementing our mission and these must be taken care of. Events at Kahrizak are among them and they must be addressed. Ten staff from the law enforcement agencies have been interrogated in this regard and eight of them have been indicted.”