Murder at the outpost
The murder at the outpost on Thursday, 7th of Shahrivar, the release of images of the body of a young man in the showers in Langarud had widespread repercussions.
The reason for this sensitivity was that the body of this person had injuries, and some news sources also introduced him as Mohammad Mirmousavi, stating that this individual was a suspect who lost his life while in custody, a news that was confirmed by the country’s official authorities.
Nevertheless, the violent behavior of the police is a recurring issue. In the month of Mordad, the news of the violent confrontation of the agents of this institution with two teenage girls over the issue of hijab had a widespread and negative impact on society, leading the police to be forced to be accountable and issue a statement.
The incident of the police shooting at Arezoo Badri, which led to her hospitalization and even being in a coma for a while, was also a matter that provoked a negative reaction from society and once again required the police to provide explanations. However, the full extent of this incident is still unclear.
Although occasionally news of inappropriate and violent behavior by agents is published in the media, the way these cases are handled by military courts is less known to the public.
The occurrence of such incidents and events by an institution that is supposed to safeguard the security of society and enforce all laws raises the question of which deficiencies and abnormalities lead to occasional violations of citizens’ rights regardless of their guilt in society.
Are the existing deficiencies related to laws or is police personnel training sometimes causing doubts in society that the actions taken by guilty officers have not been sufficiently instructive and deterrent?
Five individuals were arrested in the prosecutor’s response.
However, in this incident, the judicial response was prompt and significant, and hours after the publication of these images, the public and revolutionary prosecutor of Lahijan, Ibrahim Ansari, reported the arrest of five members of the law enforcement forces in connection with this case. Immediately after this incident, the judicial authorities of the county were present at the scene and seriously put the matter under investigation.
According to Ansari, a special investigator has been appointed for this case, and this matter has also been raised in the special events monitoring committee of the provincial judiciary with the presence of provincial judicial officials for further investigation and special oversight.
The Human Rights Commission of Gilan Province has traveled to Lahijan, and detailed judicial investigations and examinations continue.
The reaction of the police commander to being dismissed
The police, as one of the parties in this case, broke their silence and issued two statements about the death of this young man. In the first statement published on Friday, August 30th, it was mentioned that the detention of this individual was the reason. On Friday, July 23rd, news of a conflict and altercation by the locals in three stages and repeatedly reported to the local police station in the village of Naserkiadeh in the district of Lahijan. In this altercation, individuals assaulted each other, and according to the statements of the rescuers, the source of the conflict was the deceased Mirmosavi, and the deceased’s car, as clearly shown in the images, was completely destroyed and burning.
This incident has caused fear and terror among the locals, and the police arrest all the perpetrators of the incident, including the late Mirmosavi, as part of their inherent and legal duty.
Continuing with this statement, it is mentioned that the deceased, in the police station, started insulting and defying the orders of the law enforcement officers and engaged in conflict with the authorities, which continues until arriving at the detention center.
Unfortunately, due to the excitement resulting from the altercation between the deceased Mr. Mirmosavi and law enforcement officials, and the lack of control over anger and emotions by some employees, and neglect of the situation of the accused, this incident occurred. The cause of death is under investigation by the forensic doctor considering the events before the police arrived and the physical and mental conditions of the deceased. Previously, the deceased had several criminal records and conflicts, and in 2020, he was involved in a scuffle with the police and was sentenced to 9 months in prison. The behavior of some law enforcement officials in handling the incident was contrary to police professionalism and is by no means acceptable. Therefore, these individuals have been handed over to the judicial authorities.
However, a second police statement was released yesterday, announcing the dismissal of the precinct commander and the suspension of other personnel involved in the incident, an action ordered by Commander Ahmadreza Radan, the chief of police nationwide.
In another part of this statement, it is mentioned that if the negligence and indifference of other law enforcement managers are confirmed, appropriate disciplinary actions will be taken.
The cause of death is being investigated by forensic medicine due to events prior to the police presence and the physical and mental conditions of the deceased. The behavior of some law enforcement officials was against police professional ethics and is by no means acceptable. Therefore, these individuals have been handed over to the judicial authorities.
The government’s response was to order a comprehensive investigation.
Following this incident, Masoud Pezeshkian, the Vice President for Parliamentary Affairs, in line with fulfilling his promise to the people to pursue their rights, obligated Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, the Minister of Interior, to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident mentioned. Yesterday, he ordered the formation of committees to investigate this matter comprehensively and to present their final report to the Council of Ministers as soon as possible.
Shortly after the President’s order to follow up and investigate the incident in Lahijan, a special delegation from the Ministry of Interior was dispatched to this city by the order of Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli.
According to the published reports, the results of the investigations by this delegation will be presented to the public in addition to the President and the Council of Ministers.
Reactions to the Lahijan incident vary from bad to good.
The negative repercussions and dimensions of this incident, along with the President’s swift order to handle the case, have led well-known political figures to also react to it.
Gholamhossein Karbaschi, the managing editor of Hammihan newspaper, posted a video on social media in which Masoud Pezeshkian in the parliament mentions incidents from the year 91, quoting Imam Ali (AS) saying that authorities should not act like predatory animals towards people’s lives and tear them apart. Karbaschi wrote that the tragedies that have happened to Mohammad Mir-Mousavi, if he has been arrested for any reason, are the worst events in the early days of this government.
Fortunately, the President has sincerely followed up on the issue. We hope they announce the results very transparently and promptly so that the implementation of these words that have been repeated several times is necessary.
Ahmad Zeidabadi, a political analyst, also wrote in his Telegram channel about Dr. Pezeshkian’s reaction to the tragic incident in Lahijan and the order to form a committee for a quick investigation as a positive sign of the President’s interest and seriousness in fulfilling his promises, including justice.
In all societies around the world, regardless of the type of government, the possibility of committing illegal acts or crimes by government agents, especially responsible security institutions, exists. What distinguishes political systems is not the commission or non-commission of criminal acts by forces under their command, but how the political system deals with such actions.
He emphasized that in totalitarian systems, there is generally no possibility of exposing and openly discussing such crimes. Therefore, the agents of the government have the power to commit any kind of oppression, injustice, and crime against citizens and keep it hidden.
In authoritarian systems, illegal actions by government forces are somewhat exposed, but there is no hope for fair treatment, and usually the issue is dealt with through pseudo-legal or completely coercive measures. In democratic systems, crimes are both exposed and whistleblowers, especially the media, have the necessary freedom and security to investigate and report on the incident. The majority of people also have relative confidence in fair judicial handling of the crime, and if they do not see the outcome of the investigation as transparent and fair, they have the right to peaceful civil protest.
In any case, the possibility of fearless disclosure of wrongdoing by domestic media and immediate and fair response by the president are both positive signs.
Azar Mansouri, the head of the Reformist Front, also wrote about this, hoping that the President’s order to investigate the tragedy in Lahijan would lead to the condemnation and punishment of the perpetrators of torture and the death of Mohammad Mirmousavi, and that the spread of these inhuman behaviors in detention centers would be stopped.
Hossein Alaei, former commander of the Navy of the Revolutionary Guards and university professor, also wrote in a note titled ‘The Necessity of Police Training’ that with the news of Mr. Mohammad Mirmousavi’s death after being detained by the police in Lahijan, which is said to have occurred due to the beating by some police officers, some people wonder why such incidents happen from time to time. Just a while ago, a young lady fell into a coma due to police shooting, and her family is still worried about her health.
In the autumn of 1401, everyone saw the impact of the Mahsa Amini incident that occurred in a police detention center and the consequences it had on the country. In addition to the deaths of some people on the streets in protest of that incident, the issue of compulsory hijab for women spread, and all sectors of the country were affected by that police behavior.
In another part of his note, he emphasized that perhaps these incidents have made the country’s officials realize that all law enforcement personnel should receive training on how to behave correctly with people and handle tough emotional situations in order to maintain their calm and contribute to the peace and tranquility of society.
They should even receive training on how to speak and communicate so that by speaking in a certain manner and using beautiful phrases and soft words, they can comfort the people.
Emad Aldin Baqi, a journalist and sociologist, also reacted to this incident on social media platform X, calling it a tragic news.
The fact that the prosecutor acted swiftly and detained 5 officers is a good sign, but it is a bad sign when these incidents are highlighted in the media.
If the judicial and security institutions truly want to prevent these crimes from recurring, they should look into issues that have not been covered by the media.
We do not have a legal vacuum, officials should take action.
Abdolsamad Khormashahi, a jurist and attorney, emphasizes in an interview with the public that there is no legal vacuum in how the police interact with citizens. The duties of law enforcement officers and judicial officers are specified by law. According to the laws, if officers encounter an obvious crime, they should at most guide the individual to the police station and await orders from the judge to act accordingly.
Law enforcement officers can intervene to this extent and have no right to any violent confrontation unless the suspect or perpetrator engages in dangerous actions. In that case, officers should respond accordingly and arrest the individual.
In response to the question of the limits of law enforcement’s confrontation with a suspect, the jurist also mentions that all these cases are governed by specific laws, even regarding dangerous criminals who wield weapons. We have laws on the use of weapons that specify under what conditions officers can use their weapons.
When facing suspects or individuals who are not dangerous or have not committed any obvious crime, and also individuals who only need to be detained, officers must behave respectfully and guide them to the police station.
However, officers cannot arrest someone on their own or without permission.
He also emphasizes that law enforcement can detain a suspect for a maximum of 24 hours, after which a judicial order must be issued.
According to Article 38 of the Constitution, Article 7 of the Criminal Procedure Code, and in accordance with the Anti-Torture Law, any disrespect, insult, the use of offensive words, derogatory treatment, physical violence, and psychological pressure against the suspect are prohibited.
This jurist adds that if officers behave inappropriately with individuals, resulting in the individual facing physical or financial harm, they will be punished according to Article 578 of the Islamic Penal Code.
As mentioned earlier, sometimes we witness violent confrontations by law enforcement officers despite sufficient laws in place. Why do such incidents occur? Khormashahi answers that these incidents may stem from either lack of adequate training or emotional outbursts from officers who may be trying to relieve their own psychological burdens.
As we have seen, such behaviors have negative repercussions in society. The negative perception of the police by the public, which should be hopeful and supportive of them, is tarnished.
It is imperative for police officials to strongly address individuals who act recklessly, resorting to emotional and unlawful physical abuse, violence, or humiliation towards others.
He emphasizes that fortunately, the authorities promptly followed up on this incident. Nevertheless, given the sensitivity of the matter, it is necessary for the authorities to seriously deal with such actions.
People around the world feel secure by seeing the police. If such actions cause fear and concern among the people, it is certainly against the goals of the system, officials, and the mission and duty of law enforcement.
