Iran’s Eliot Spitzer

Think New York's governor has problems? Ardeshir Arian writes that Spitzer's scandal pales in comparison to the talk of the town in Tehran -- the police chief getting caught "praying" nude with six naked women.

March 13, 2008 - by Ardeshir Arian

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General Reza Zarei, Tehran’s chief of police and a member of the Revolutionary Guard, has resigned under a cloud of scandal after he was caught and arrested naked, with no fewer than six nude women, during a government raid on a brothel.

General Zarei had spearheaded recent police operations targeting the enforcement of Islamic dress for women to promote public morality, which have resulted in thousands of arrests. In courthouses across the country, but especially in Tehran — among lawyers, judges, court clerks, and police — there is talk of little else. The story, which the Iranian regime has done its utmost to keep out of the press, first leaked out on the leftist Farsi website Peiknet more than a week ago.

The story has made its way onto several underground Iranian websites and blogs and has been confirmed by Pajamas Media by independent sources. The story gained credibility when it was reported by Farda News, which is said to be closely allied to Tehran’s mayor and former police chief Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf.

According to these multiple reports, the raid and arrest were the result of a direct order from the head of judicial authorities, Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, and was executed under strictest secrecy, without informing or notifying the judiciary’s chief prosecutor Said Mortazavi .

Shahroudi was aware of the very close relationship between Zarei, who had served as Tehran police chief for four years, and Mortazavi, and suspected that if he was informed, Judge Mortazavi would tip off his friend in advance.

It has been reported that Shahroudi was so worried this could happen that he fired an administrator in one courthouse who was close to Mortazavi in order to block any possible leak of information about this arrest to Mortazavi and his people. Mortazavi is said to be furious about the whole operation.

Reports say that Shahroudi, the head of the judiciary, has staunchly refused to back down from fully prosecuting General Zarei. General Zarei was reportedly freed on bail three days after he was arrested. Strict gag orders are in place against publication of the matter. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has reportedly agreed to move forward with the procecution, but has ordered that the procedure be kept quiet and secret, with strict orders against any publication in the press. Moreover, he has asked that the legal procedure be postponed until after the Iranian parliamentary elections set for Friday.

There is additional pressure to keep the story quiet so as not to damage the morale of the Iranian police force.

Peiknet reported that the initial sources of information on the private whorehouse were its neighbors in the residential neighborhood in which it was located. When undercover government agents responded to the complaint and conducted a stakeout to gather evidence, they became aware of Zarei.

With factional cracks amongst the powerful elements of the Islamic Republic, it is speculated that the decision to allow the operation involving Zarei to go forward was the result of fierce internal power struggles.

According to the reports on Farsi websites, during preliminary interrogations of the six women, when asked why they were naked, their response was “General Zarei asked us to do a group prayer. In the nude.”

General Zarei was freed on bail three days later. On orders from the authorities, the press was banned from publishing the news, according to informed sources, which added that Ayatollah Khamenei accepted the request of Ayatollah Shahroudi for an “exemplary” trial of the Revolutionary Guard general, but in secret and after the elections.

Ardeshir Arian is a special correspondent for Pajamas Media; he covers Iranian affairs.

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49 Comments

gerard pawling:

did he have his pistol out?

Mar 13, 2008 - 10:03 am BW:

Lemme guess…these women will be executed and this guy will not suffer anything but the loss of his job.

Mar 13, 2008 - 10:10 am Fuey:

Can you say, dead man walking?

Mar 13, 2008 - 10:11 am Joe Schmoe:

Were they all facing East and if so was he in back? 6 women? That man is a flat out PIMP. Don’t be a hater, the man had it going on.

Mar 13, 2008 - 10:17 am Syd Bloom:

Like I have said for years now, there are more similarities between democrats and arab terrorists than one can count.

Mar 13, 2008 - 10:25 am hazz:

well this was a smart man. he got 6 ladies in the flesh before he dies and gets 72 in heaven lol. 6 in the hand is worth 72 in the bush lol

Mar 13, 2008 - 10:29 am Osama:

I hope the womens’ faces were covered!

Mar 13, 2008 - 10:33 am dan eubank:

Must have been praying for something to rise to the occasion.

Could a beheading be in his future.

Mar 13, 2008 - 10:33 am olan teague:

The sad thing is he will probaly get off with a light punishment but the women will probaly be stoned, i would not be surprised if they were either kidnapped or smuggled in from eastern europe, but either way the women are dead. But U.S. liberals will claim Iran and its regime are noty bad, i do not see anyone arresting or rushing out to kill spitzers prostitute. then again he is a jew. that last was to stir debate.

Mar 13, 2008 - 10:36 am TmjUtah:

“But… but most reverend Ayatollah, first - just listen to the tape made by the Morality SWAT Team!”

(roll tape)

“OHGODOHGOD *moans and giggles* OHMYGOODNESS OHMYGOD *squealing* *BY THE PROPHET HIMSELF* grunts *OHLORD*…”

“There, you hear that? Doesn’t that sound like religous fervor to you???”

Mar 13, 2008 - 10:53 am Blippy:

@ Syd Bloom

So by that logic David Vitter is an Islamic terrorist.
And so is Larry Craig? And what about Duke Cunningham? They all apear to be whore loving hypocrits as well. Maybe they should go to Guantanamo?

Your logic is amazing.

Mar 13, 2008 - 10:56 am Doubled-over Laughing... No!, I'm "prrraaayinnnnng" (wink, wink):

O… M… G… THAT’S a mental image I won’t soon lose - General “I’ll gladly slap the face of my own religion just to get my rocks off” Zarhei down on all fours “praying”! I can hear it now: “Holy camel cr@p, did somebody let goat loose in here?!

Mar 13, 2008 - 11:06 am Red Fred:

Similiarities between Democrats and Arab terrorists? I guess it’s true then. If he was a Republican those would have been teenage boys.

Mar 13, 2008 - 11:18 am Haley Rodman Clemson:

I hope there were enough male witnesses to prosecute him. I guess this gives new meaning to the “Crescent of Islam.” Hey, does anyone have a banana?

Mar 13, 2008 - 11:37 am Elliot Spitzer:

Now why didn’t I think of that?!?!

Mar 13, 2008 - 11:44 am deadbackpacker:

Red Fred No the teenage boys would be reserved for that paragon of Democrats Barney Frank.

Mar 13, 2008 - 11:45 am Randall, USA:

Ah, ha ha ha! Too funny.

Mar 13, 2008 - 11:51 am Jojo:

Well…..Islam is the religion of piece.

Mar 13, 2008 - 11:54 am dean:

what a great move to say they were “praying.” If only Spitzer was that smart. Guess they don’t teach you that at Havard or Yale.

Mar 13, 2008 - 11:55 am Gia:

Were they virgins?

Mar 13, 2008 - 12:03 pm AmericansareIdiots:

You guys are a bunch of dummies. Iranians aren’t Arabs.

Mar 13, 2008 - 12:07 pm Martin D:

I am sure they will prosecute the woman in this case and not this idiot. Since he was with 6 woman, is he now client #6?

Mar 13, 2008 - 12:15 pm LL in La:

I thought you had to blow up yourself and other innocent victims to get this reward. So you pray with them nude or stone them for looking at a non-family member. Suicide bombers are beginning to make sense to me now . . . by these “standards.”

Mar 13, 2008 - 12:22 pm 02Z06:

Hahahahaha… typical liberals, do as I say … Not as I do.

Mar 13, 2008 - 12:28 pm Saddened:

It is quite likely that these women have been forced into prostitution against their wills. It happens every day all over the world. No, it isn’t grand and wonderful that he got six women. It’s disgusting. Not only did he have to pay for them, I can guarantee they really didn’t want him or the other men who pretend to have morals and then turn around and force them on everyone else. These women were and are damned to a living hell and probably can look forward to being executed in the near future. He can reap what he’s sown. These women are the true victims here.

Mar 13, 2008 - 12:37 pm Will of AZ:

I can’t believe these horrible infidel women seduced this guy into praying with them in the nude. They should most certainly all be stoned immediately. I’m sure he was just in there praying and they ran in, ripped off his clothes, and threatened to rape the poor man to death before they were caught in the act.

Mar 13, 2008 - 12:46 pm Richard Hertz:

Properly translated, “Islam” does not mean peace; it means submission. You will therefore submit to this policy chief’s hypocrisy - and you will like it.

Mar 13, 2008 - 12:53 pm John Cartmell:

From R.E. M. “Losing My Religion”)

That was just a dream
That was just a dream

That’s me in the corner
That’s me in the spotlight,
Losing my religion

Mar 13, 2008 - 12:59 pm Idiot guess again moron:

Americansareidiots. Persian or Arabic. I think you are sorely missing the point. Worst case this “general” will go home. The women should only be so lucky and all you can comment on is that Americans are idiots as in out two line comments do not distinguish between Persians and Arabs. You sound just like that general. Pants down and full of crap.

Mar 13, 2008 - 1:01 pm Ignatz Horowitz:

This is all the fault of Western influence. The world world knows how corrupt we are. In short…

It’s Bush’s fault!

Mar 13, 2008 - 1:02 pm Dave in Sacramento:

Allah be praised!!!!…..and those 6 sinful women will either be stoned to death or beheaded at half-time during a soccer match, with General Zarei administering punishment as an act of penance and self-purification.

Mar 13, 2008 - 1:06 pm Ormalie Gimfinkle:

…. So much for the “purist Islamic fundamentalist regime…

Mar 13, 2008 - 1:32 pm Moderate:

Well Syd…The story you are commenting on contain no arabs and republicans have been involved in more sex scandals than democrats. But hey, don’t let facts stop you from spewing ignorance :)

Mar 13, 2008 - 1:42 pm Peter:

Hey moderate, name me a president that had more affairs than Bill Clinton? Thats right JFK. You are right by todays hipocritical standards JFK’s policies would have him be considered a right wing extremist republican. So cudos to you for sharing with us that the “general” is a Persian and not just a plain old SOB.

Mar 13, 2008 - 2:22 pm firouzeh ghaffarpour:

Dear Ardi;

Great job as usual, specially your title; “Iran’s Eliot Spitzer”.

Mar 13, 2008 - 4:27 pm Yari:

Please note, General Zaeri along with the Butcher District Attorney Mortazavi have hanged may people for crimes much less than this guy has committed. It is time for the Islamic Regime to start practicing what they preach! He must have a be trialed and sentenced as “The Corrupt of the Earth” The bougus title under many innocent people have been publicly hanged. He must be hanged publicly as well.Thanks to Ardi for this article.

Mar 13, 2008 - 7:09 pm Yari:

All the Mullah’s are a scorrupt as this zarei. He was just stupid enough to get caught! He had arrested well over 30,000 women for bad clothing. His group is also involved in selling young girls for prostitution rings and drug trafficking from Afghanistan to Turkey. The Turkish police has a lot of scoop on this corrupt General. Hanging in public is the only answer!

Mar 13, 2008 - 7:17 pm fariba:

Dear Mr. Arian,
Love to read your articles because
You say the truth & not scared of these Mullas & through out the yrs. You have shown they can not buy YOU
nor controll you .More power to You.

Mar 13, 2008 - 8:14 pm Sun:

AmericansareIdiots …
Finally someone got it.. Thank you ..Yes Iran is not Arabic country.

Mar 13, 2008 - 8:30 pm adrianne truett:

Well, it’s proof of what they keep saying as the reason why women must keep completely covered and hidden — see what happens when they don’t? Just the sight of a partially-revealed woman outside the brothel (perhaps showing some ankle), or maybe even the knowledge that inside the brothel there would be uncovered women, has the power to overcome an upstanding man and make him do what they obviously want. Not his fault at all — all theirs. Right?

Mar 14, 2008 - 6:16 am Ozymandias888:

Iranians are not Arabs, but they are arabicized. Therein lies the problem.

Islam is nothing more and nothing less than a vehicle for Arab cultural, political and linguistic imperialism. Hence the need to bow towards imperial Mecca 5 times daily. Hence the need to learn the imperial language in order to fully practice the cult. Hence the earthly need for apostates to be killed in order to maintain the political strength and integrity of the Ummah. Hence the earthly injunction to convert, kill or enslave every human on the planet.

Where Arab culture in the form of Islam flourishes, be it Gaza, Iran, Pakistan, Dafur, or the suburbs of Paris, political and social tragedy follow.

Mar 14, 2008 - 7:24 am JihadGene:

The Reverend Jeremiah Notsowright Jr says-

What’s wrong with praying like that? We pray like this in my
“Trinity Luv-Club Church of Chicago”, all the time. It’s in the bible too…under
Genitalia 51:50!

Mar 14, 2008 - 9:44 am Ozymandias888:

Iranians are not Arabs, but they are arabicized. Therein lies the problem.

Islam is nothing more and nothing less than a vehicle for Arab cultural, political and linguistic imperialism. Hence the need to bow towards imperial Mecca 5 times daily. Hence the need to learn the imperial language in order to fully practice the cult. Hence the earthly need for apostates to be killed in order to maintain the political strength and integrity of the Ummah. Hence the earthly injunction to convert, kill or enslave every human on the planet.

Where Arab culture in the form of Islam flourishes, be it Gaza, Iran, Pakistan, Dafur, or the suburbs of Paris, political and social tragedy follow.

Mar 14, 2008 - 11:27 am Luca:

Can’t understand why he didn’t just ‘muta’ marry them all (temporary marriage which can be as short as 10 minutes or as long as 99 years).

There are no limits to the number of muta marriages a muslim can enter into, and he can have his four revolving wives simultaneously also. The world is his sexual playground!

Mar 14, 2008 - 1:33 pm Reza Sadreddini:

My grateful thanks are expressed to you and to your correspondant, Mr. Ardeshir Arian for letting us know
what goes on in Iran.As I mentioned before we get access to the Full Article if your e.mails are in our
Inbox Mail and not the Bulk or Spam.

Mar 15, 2008 - 3:59 am Michael T:

You people don’t understand what with your cynical comments. It is simply that a miracle has occurred. Allah Hoo Ahkbar.6 of the 72 virgins in heaven were transported to earth to provide instruction in proper behavior in preparation for the life ahead. It’s really so simple.

Mar 15, 2008 - 10:50 pm bour3:

I conclude nudity is the supreme form of Islamic praying. Why else would doctrine insist a believer assume the come-mount-me position on a portable carpet so many times a day while seeking spiritual ecstasy? While on the subject, I recommend bidets in addition to foot baths, for the complete supreme expression of Islamic prayer. Be sure not to neglect the lube.

Mar 17, 2008 - 9:04 pm Buraq:

Hi There
My name is Buraq Amin and I am doing a research project on media/Mass and Iranian Politics for my university in GMU (U.S.A), I really admire the work of Ardeshir Arian, and would be really happy help in any case,if needed.
Sincerely Buraq Amin

May 31, 2008 - 5:22 pm

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