“We’re paid 200 thousand Tomans ($200) per day”

By Jalal Keyhan Manesh

Saturday morning June 21, as Tehran was about to face a day full of unrest, the presence of the white (civilian) clothed personnel who were beating and brutalizing people with their batons and clubs become more prominent. These personnel are often often hired daily and as one of them says “the Iranians are paid 200 thousands Tomans ($200) per day and the non-Iranians several times more.” The “club-wielder” who the Rooz reporter talked to said, “we stay in a dormitory but the non-Iranians stay in a hotel.”

The following is this special report:

Four days after the election results were announced, the white (civilian) clothed forces speaking with unfamiliar accents and wearing anti-riot police helmets emerged on the streets. Some witnesses say, “we don’t understand what these club wielders say.” Some also state that they have seen in front of themselves, Arabic speaking baton holders. Yesterday in a snack bar I had the opportunity to speak with one of these white (civilian) clothed personnel.

I was inside the shop that he entered. He asked for a cold drink while he was still holding his club. I started talking to him:

Hello brother! Don’t be tired!
God bless you! (The anxiety is visible in his eyes. He has a thick accent.)

Where are you from?
Torbat.

Which Torbat?
Torbaj-e Jaam.

How old are you?
36 years old.

Do you have a family?
No. A wife and children are expensive. I’m unemployed.

Unemployed? Are you not a Basiji? Don’t you receive a salary from Sepah (Revolutionary Guards)?
No. I’m not a Basiji. I’m unemployed.

But you’re employed now, aren’t you?
Yeah.

Why are you holding a club?
We’re brought here to beat the Monafegh [hypocrites, referencing the MKO], so they gave us this club.

Who gave it to you?
Haji. He said beat them so they cannot get up. They are traitors.

What do you think?
That’s none of my business. I only get my money.

So you’re paid to beat. Do you enjoy it?
Yeah! They pay me to beat. Wouldn’t you do it too?

How much do they pay?
200 Thousand Tomans. (His eyes lighten up.)

That’s a lot. What do you want to do with it?
I’ll get a wife. When I have this much money, I can even get two. Do you know how much it will become [in 10 days]? 2 million! Though I might not go back to Torbat-e Jaam. I might stay here. Haji said there will be more demonstrations. They will keep us employed.

How many days have you been in Tehran?
3 days. I’m to stay 7 more days.

Where are the others, who are with you, from?
I don’t know every one, but in our dorm there are people from Mazandaran, Arak, and Khoozestan. Also from Torbat-e Heydaieh and Khavaaf. (He’s drank his soda. Asks for a cigarette. I give him. He lights it up. We continue talking while he smokes.)

There are also Arabs. No?
Yes. But I’ve heard they are in a hotel. It’s said that they’re from Lebanon. When we were given Tuna cans for dinner last night, the guys were saying that Arabs get better food.

Were is your dorm?
I don’t know. I don’t know Tehran, but it’s far. We go that way to get to the dorm. (He is pointing to the east of Tehran.)

Have you been in Tehran before?
No. It’s the first time.

Do you pray?
Yes. But here they say when you’re in duty, you cannot even go to bathroom.

Don’t you feel bad you beat people?
People? Haji says the chanters are Monafegh. I believe him. He is Haji. Haji doesn’t lie, you know. (At this time, a large and obese man enters the shop. Looks around angrily and sees the young man.)

He says, “what are you doing here? Who did you talk to?” The man says, “Nothing. Came here to get soda.” “Go to your position. Run!”

The man takes his club and goes out. He’s had a cold drink and feels good. Will there be a job for him in seven days?