The Party's Over: Iran Police Chief

Gulf Times, Reuters:

Iran’s new police chief has vowed to crack down on illicit alcohol, music CDs and parties where people of the opposite sex mingle, months after promising a policy which would respect people’s privacy...“The crackdown will be on corruption centres where mixed parties are held and gangs distribute alcohol and CDs,” Isna student news agency yesterday quoted Ismail Ahmadi-Moqaddam as saying.

“Young Iranians are victims of moral corruption. We will strongly react against it,” he said.

Ahmadi-Moqaddam had promised when he took office in July an ethical and modern police force which would respect people’s privacy, countering fears he may roll back fragile social freedoms. READ MORE

He was appointed after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected, replacing Mohamed Khatami’s eight-year presidency during which enforcement of social restrictions such as dress codes for women relaxed.

Iran’s police have in the past raided houses in search of satellite television receivers, which are banned. Parties where people of the opposite sex mingle or drink alcohol are regularly raided by police or Basij militia.

Ahmadi-Moqaddam is a former member of the hardline Revolutionary Guards and acting commander of its militia wing, the Basij.