Many Reasons Why IRGC Is Reviving Street Patrols in Tehran Ranian Brigadier-General Thing Has Happened in the Coun- Earlier Era Must Be Seen As a Part Corruption

December 24, 2017 15 Debate Iran

Unsafe streets. A file picture shows Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (C) surrounded by military commanders while visiting the Aerospace Force Exhibition of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Tehran. (AFP) Many reasons why IRGC is reviving street patrols in Tehran ranian Brigadier-General thing has happened in the coun- earlier era must be seen as a part corruption. Former President Mohammad Reza Yazdi , try and the Law Enforcement of its threat perception and self- Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his the deputy commander of Forces are incapable of securing interest. cronies incite their proletarian Ali Alfoneh the Islamic Revolutionary law and order. Otherwise, what On the surface, Iran appears to supporters against the entire is a non-resident senior fellow at Guard Corps (IRGC), made need is there for the authorities to have escaped the tumult of the establishment, whom they accuse Rafik Hariri Centre for the Middle the surprising announce- establish [IRGC] street patrols?” “Arab spring.” However, public of stealing Iran’s wealth. The dor- East at the Atlantic Council. ment that he was reviving Ahmadi said. dissatisfaction with the perfor- mant Green Movement (as well as IIRGC street patrols that had been It stands to reason. The prob- mance of the regime remains a anarchists and political opportun- routine during the revolution and lems cited as the reason to put serious threat. So does the fac- ists) is waiting for a pretext to in wartime. They would be back, the IRGC on the streets cannot tional struggle for power among take to the streets. he said, “to fight thugs and theft.” be solved by increased patrols. the elites as each tries to draw the In the circumstances, the IRGC The announcement set off a Narcotics addiction, divorce and public to their cause. perceives itself as the defender public debate about public safety poverty are not so easily dealt The president mobilises the of order. In the process, it may be and the IRGC’s role in Iran. Is the with. Perhaps the IRGC’s plans public against the clerical es- politically opportune to use street country so unsafe that it needs to revive street patrols from an tablishment in his fight against patrols to tackle political rivals. armed IRGC soldiers to roam the streets? If it is so unsafe, why were police doing nothing to address the problem? Might the The plight of Iranian Sunnis IRGC street patrol be another example of its rivalry with other government entities? risks creating tomorrow’s radicals Yazdi appeared to suggest not. In his address to the Tehran City Ali Alfoneh expectations from him, which he ism and takfiri movements” in the Council, he likened narcotic must address. In particular, the past three years. Therefore, it is tell- addiction, as well as “poverty, demands of the Sunnis and Sunni- ing that Iran’s leading Sunni cleric divorce and other social ills” to ranian leaders habitually criti- populated areas, which experi- brought Shirazi into his conversa- “earthquakes shaking Tehran cise Arab Sunni governments ence discrimination and manifold tion with Ebtekar. every single day and ruining for mistreating their Shia problems.” “Some time ago, it was reported homes and families.” The IRGC populations but the Islamic He pointed out: “Our Sunni to Ayatollah [Naser] Makarem street patrols would counter Republic has a poor record brethren are absent in [govern- Shirazi that the Sunnis are buying these threats, he said. regarding its Sunni minority. ment] bureaucracy and, if they are Shia homes and they even tried There is no indication the Worse, the plight of Iranian represented, they are very few.” to [relate the Sunnis] to Israel IRGC decision was authorised by ISunnis risks creating radicals. This, Ismaeelzahi complained about and the Jews but we visited him higher authorities, such as the Su- at the very time the regime in Teh- restrictions faced by Sunnis on and explained there is no such a preme National Security Council. ran has declared victory over the matters of faith. There are, he said, thing… We are not proselytising Nor does it appear to have been Islamic State (ISIS). “problems teaching the Quran to in Mashhad [in Razavi Khorasan coordinated with the police. That was the message conveyed our children and, in certain places, province]… and we are not trying Interior Ministry spokesman by Iran’s most prominent Sunni organising prayer.” to reach majority by increasing the Salman Samani said the police cleric, Mawlana Abdolhamid Ismae- He noted restrictions on his number of our children.” or, as he put it, the “Greater elzahi. In the December 2 edition of movement, both within Iran and Significantly, Ismaeelzahi made a Tehran Law Enforcement Forces the reformist Ebtekar newspaper, abroad. “I do not have any prob- forceful response on the fundamen- [have] not asked any institution Ismaeelzahi warned against ignor- lems in Tehran, Sistan-Baluchestan tal question of Iranian Sunnis’ core for assistance.” Interior Minister ing the root causes of radicalism. and Qom but in other provinces identity. “We are Iranians and, as Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said: “I, too, am happy to hear this there are certain restrictions,” he such, members of the same family,” “We do have laws and regula- news,” Ismaeelzahi said of ISIS’s said. “For example, some time ago he said. “What is the problem of tions for such things and the clear defeat. However, he warned: “We I wanted to visit Khorasan to take having multiple [religious] inclina- principle is that the Law Enforce- must think of future vulnerabilities part in a funeral service but certain tions within the same family? In- ment Forces are entrusted with so radicalism does not raise its head individuals contacted me and asked dividual [religious] inclination is a the responsibility of securing elsewhere… Let us remember that me not to participate. This problem matter between the individual and law and order in cities and in the injustice, discrimination, poverty exists in other provinces and I hope God and one must not discriminate countryside.” and penury are social problems responsible authorities solve this between members of the same fam- Parliamentary supporters of resulting in radicalism.” problem so my freedom of move- ily, which is the Iranian nation.” the IRGC rushed to its defence. When asked if he thought ISIS ment, regardless of being a Shia or Overall, there is much that is Ala al-Din Boroujerdi, chairman had been defeated forever, Ismae- Sunni, is not restricted.” cheering about Ismaeelzahi’s com- of parliament’s National Security elzahi said countering radical- He added that “certain governments. First, it is a healthy sign that and Foreign Policy Committee, ism requires more than security ment agencies” bar his participa- he was allowed to give an interview insisted that the IRGC’s street pa- measures and military solutions. tion in international conferences. in which he complains of the plight trol scheme is “coordinated with “Negotiation and dialogue [are] Ismaeelzahi referred subtly to of Iran’s largest religious minority. the Law Enforcement Forces” and needed,” he said. “The root causes accusations made against Iran’s Second, Iran is fortunate to have “the people feel calmer” with the behind [radicalism] must be identi- Sunnis, specifically to Grand a religious leader with the stature Iran needs to address IRGC roaming the streets. fied and we should deal with those Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, and vision of Ismaeelzahi. He is a the problems cited by It may be a hard sell in some causes.” a senior religious leader. Shirazi, moderating force for Iranian quarters. Nemat Ahmadi, a Ismaeelzahi offered telling ob- who is 91 and played a role in writ- Sunnis. moderate leaders or prominent lawyer, said that servations about the state of affairs ing post-Islamic revolution Iran’s In the final analysis, Iran needs it may have to deal “rather than making the public in Iran. “I supported Mr [Hassan] first constitution, has organised to address the problems cited by feel calm, it reinforces a sense of Rohani [in his bid for presidency],” two international conferences on moderate leaders or it may have to with radicals insecurity.” he said, “the people have certain Islamic scholars’ view of “extrem- deal with radicals tomorrow. tomorrow. “Public opinion thinks some-