February 26, 2021
A Majlis deputy is the target of Iran’s latest scandal-of-the-week after he was videotaped arguing with a traffic officer, whom he slapped when the officer wouldn’t allow the deputy to drive in a lane reserved for buses.
The lawmaker is being portrayed as yet another member of the elite who does not believe that the laws apply to him.
The incident reportedly took place January 22 in Tehran. The video does not show the slap itself. In the video, the young police officer is seen taking the video as witnesses gather around, confirming what he says. The police officer said Deputy Ali-Asgar Annabestani, 50, got out of his car and verbally insulted the officer and then slapped him because he would not allow the deputy to drive in the lane designated for buses.
The video shows that Anna-bestani remains in the car as witnesses gathered, completely blocking traffic both in the bus lane and in the regular lanes.
The anger of the witnesses on the scene can be heard, with many proclaiming their support of the traffic officer and hurling insults at Annabestani, who is a deputy from Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province. He was previously governor general of the province under President Mahmud Ahmadi-nejad.
In Iran, traffic police are separate from the police force that handles crimes. Sometimes they are military conscripts finishing their service. They do not carry guns, and they have very little enforcement discretion.
National Police Chief Brig. Gen. Hossain Ashtari said, “Certainly we support the officer. Everyone is equal before the law, and we expect officials to respect and abide by the law.” He said Majlis deputies do not have permission to drive in bus lanes.
Mohammad-Hussain Hamidi, chief of the traffic police, said there is “sufficient” evidence of the physical confrontation between Annabestani and the traffic policeman. He said he will wait to see what decision the Judiciary makes.
The story was front page news in many dailies, including both Reformist and conservative newspapers.
