“Iran abolishes the moral police”: the announcement after the riots, and the doubts

A concession to protesters or simple statements which do not find any confirmation made perhaps with the intent to appease the revolt.

The statements of the attorney general, the ultra-conservative Mohammad Javad Montazeri captured by media around the world.

Responding on Saturday during a religious conference to a question about why there moral police — the same one involved in the death of Mahsa Aminiwhich started the protests now 11 weeks ago – was no longer operational, the prosecutor, as reported by the semi-governmental agency Isna, commented: The moral police has nothing to do with the judiciary, and was abolished by whoever created it.

Words that do not find official confirmation, especially from the Ministry of the Interior. But that have not even been denied by the government.

Montazeri on the other hand hastened to specify how the judiciary will continue to monitor behavior and underlined that women’s clothing continues to be very important.

Still speaking in the holy city of Qom, Montazeri also hinted that the Iranian Parliament and the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution would be examining the question of the hijab, the Islamic veil, compulsory for women in public places according to a 1983 law. But in this case too Montazeri did not provide any details.

Alone 37% of Iraniansaccording to a poll leaked by the Fars news agency close to the Revolutionary Guards, agree with hijab lawand it was the obligation to keep the head and hair covered that triggered thewave of protests which revealed more widespread resentment against the ayatollahs.

In this framework, the president, the ultra-conservative Ebrahim Raisiwhich imposed new restrictions on women’s clothing, noted at a conference in Tehran that the constitution has solid and immutable values ​​and principles but what there are implementation methods that can be flexible. A move according to many analysts to try to appease the spirits of reformists and conservatives, after, in recent months, the US and the EU have imposed sanctions on Iranian officials and government bodies, including the morality police.

But it would be a matter of a facade opening, not sufficient to stop what the activists define a real revolution. If the regime has responded to the pressure of the protests that could be a good thing, but we need to see how it works in practice and what Iranians think about it, commented the US secretary of state Antony Blinkenwhile Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani defined the decision, if confirmed, as an act of good will but only a small step that does not change the situation of unacceptable repression.

And while the death toll rises (200 according to official data, 470 according to NGOs), and after four Iranians, arrested in June for links with Israel, were convicted and hanged, the Security Council announced that the security they will face each new revolt with all their strength and without tolerance.

Words that come on the eve of a new mobilization called starting today for three days.