Uzi Mahnaimi
2 for 1 tickets to Casablanca, this coming Monday
PRESIDENT Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s “moral enforcer”, who led a crackdown on women failing to adhere to Iran’s strict Islamic dress codes, has been arrested in a Tehran brothel, it was reported last week.
Brigadier General Ali Reza Zarei, 53, the Tehran police chief and a confidant of the president, was said to have been with six prostitutes when he was detained by members of his own force two weeks ago.
He has been removed from his post and put on bail, according to the Iranian Farda website. The site is understood to be close to Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, the former police chief who is now mayor of Tehran and is expected to challenge Ahmadinejad for the presidency next year.
There has been no mention of the case in the official Iranian media but a spokesman for the justice department admitted last week that an unnamed senior official had been arrested.
The Shahab news site, which is also linked to opponents of Ahmadinejad, said it was believed that up to 60 hours of videotape featuring the general and the prostitutes had been confiscated by his officers.
Zarei - who was in charge of the programme for the “moralisation” of women - now faces possible prosecution.
Enjoy screenings of all the classic films you love.
Have you ever dreamed of owning your own racehorse or a beautiful painting?
Enjoy comfort, safety, space and great design. Plus enter our great competition
Are you California dreaming? Explore the wonders of the Golden State. Also enter our fantastic competition
Do you have what it takes to be a Times photographer?
Your brain is capable of more than you might think...
Find out to make the most of your money with our wealth management guides
Need help with your property? We have an entire how to guide - buying, selling, letting, moving, to help you
Everything the Business Traveller needs to know to make a better trip
We are seeking entries for the inaugural Sunday Times Best Green Companies Awards
Enjoy some wonderful inspiring wildlife moments
An interactive preview of the brand new For Your Eyes Only exhibition

Love Sudoku? Play our brand new interactive game: with added functionality and daily prizes

Are you irritable when you return from work? Drained of emotion? You could be suffering from boreout
Prepare for some shock and awe, petrol lovers. Despite the greens trying to wipe it out, the car is about to offer us the most exciting year ever
We've trawled the brochures and websites to find this summer’s best holidays for every taste and budget

Overseas contacts and local business information

Direct from the farms
2007/07
£57,500
South East England
2007/57
£22,950
The Midlands
2006/06
£41,995
South East England
Great car insurance deals online
£40-55k+benefits+uncapped commission
Morgan Keating
South East
£60k plus excellent benefits
Barclaycard
Stockton / Northampton
£
£55,000 - £75,000 plus bonus and benefits
Diligenta
Based in Peterborough
£45,000 - £70,000 plus bonus and benefits
Diligenta
Based in Peterborough
Globrix, the property search engine
Visit Times Online Property for homes for sale or rent
Residential development site with planning permission
£1,500,000
Mortgages, bank accounts & money transfers to help you buy abroad
Dinarobin Hotel Golf & Spa 7 nights
From £1830 per person – saving £530.
Smart prices on ATOL protected holidays
Excellent online info & holiday selection.
Walt Disney World Resort Florida SALE!
From £619 per person!
Great travel insurance deals online
Contact our advertising team for advertising and sponsorship in Times Online, The Times and The Sunday Times. Search globrix.com to buy or rent UK property.
© Copyright 2008 Times Newspapers Ltd.
This service is provided on Times Newspapers' standard Terms and Conditions. Please read our Privacy Policy.To inquire about a licence to reproduce material from Times Online, The Times or The Sunday Times, click here.This website is published by a member of the News International Group. News International Limited, 1 Virginia St, London E98 1XY, is the holding company for the News International group and is registered in England No 81701. VAT number GB 243 8054 69.
In answer to Raj's (from Bombay, India) view, if men are righteous, would they really be visiting prostitutes? I suppose it is at their mother's breasts that such men are ultimately corrupted? Open you eyes to realities. What a shameful way to think. As a woman, I tend to think you yourself have been unable to find the man within yourself. Your thinking is archaic.
sharon, lancaster,
It's really the women's fault. They always corrupt otherwise righteous men.
Raj, Bombay, India
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi who is the head of the judiciary ordered his arrest, Mr Reza Zarei is a disgrace for having double standards.
mohsen, malaga, spain
I'll bet theres a few of his buddies suddenly finding jobs to do at home too
mike, leeds, uk
I wonder if he has been in touch with Spitzer, or if Spitzer has been on the phone with him to compare notes
Thomas, Katama,
I wonder who he upset in the hierarchy?
Bill Q, Derby,
Many may have noticed that any obsessive advocacy of "sexual morality" or, "sexual permissiveness" ( people can go nutty with that too) - both soon lead to cynicism, inducing the standard-bearers to secretive transformations of the type we read here. This supports the need for tolerant, moderate social standards of morality, but making it clear to individuals, from an young age, that they have to face the consequences of their wild behaviour, whether it be in sex, finances, consuming alcohol and driving cars.
Kris iyer, Chennai, India