Case Explained: With Police Centers Destroyed, Iranians Ask: Who Stops Crime Now? – Legal Perspective

Police stations and law enforcement facilities in Tehran and other parts of the country have been struck by Israeli and American attacks. At least 10 police stations in Tehran, along with nearby Criminal Investigation Department (Police Agahi) bases and the force’s central command buildings, have been bombed and destroyed. Reports also indicate that police stations in cities such as Kerman, Isfahan, Shahinshahr, Saqqez, Kermanshah, Ilam, Mahabad, Paveh, Azarshahr, Khorramabad, Borujerd, Bukan, Miandoab, Javanrud, and Kamyaran have been targeted.

The destruction of Iran’s police infrastructure has raised an urgent question: who, and with what resources, should provide security for a population that is already living under continuous bombardment? If a citizen’s home remains standing but the blast waves have shattered its doors and windows, how can that household be protected from thieves and criminals?

Some Iranian citizens say that their calls to the 110 police emergency line are no longer being answered. At the same time, others describe the bombing of law enforcement centers as part of an effort by Israel and the United States to neutralize the state’s “repressive forces” and open the way for protesters.

War, the Bombing of Law Enforcement Centers, and the Victimization of Human Rights

In Tehran, one of the most common concerns among residents is their inability to leave their homes to seek safety elsewhere because they fear losing their belongings. IranWire previously reported that blast waves from strikes have shattered apartment windows and doors, leaving many homes exposed and vulnerable to theft.

According to the law, the Law Enforcement Force of the Islamic Republic (NAJA) is responsible for maintaining internal security, public order, traffic management, and the prevention of crime in both urban and rural areas. The 110 Emergency Center manages initial responses and coordinates geographic assessments.

A review of reports related to the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran shows that the following police stations were directly targeted: Station 137 (Gisha), 104 (Niloofar Sq), 138 (Jannat Abad), 113 (Bazar), 158 (Kianshahr), 140 (Bagh-e Feyz), 111 (Haft Chenar), 133 (Shahr-e Ziba), and 169 (Moshiriyeh), along with the Shahr-e Rey station. Most of these stations were located near Criminal Investigation Department bases. In addition to central command buildings, the Diplomatic Police building, which is responsible for protecting embassies, was also bombed.

Investigations indicate that in some areas, such as Shahr-e Ziba, mobile police units have been deployed to replace stations that were destroyed.

Despite the political arguments made by opposition activists in support of bombing these centers, no political group has clearly explained how public safety against ordinary crime should be maintained. This concern applies both during the disorder of a political movement and during a war involving the Islamic Republic. At the same time, human rights activists worry that in a “securitized” wartime environment, illegal violence carried out by security forces may be ignored or even justified in the name of maintaining order.

A recent example is the statement by Ahmadreza Radan, Commander of the Law Enforcement Force, who said that under current wartime conditions police forces have been given “shoot-to-kill” orders to confront thieves.

What are the Penalties for Criminality in Wartime?

A review of the Islamic Penal Code shows that certain crimes can receive harsher punishment during wartime.

Legal expert Moussa Barzin explained how criminals are dealt with under these conditions. He says: “The punishment for all military offenses is intensified during wartime, but for civilians, only specific crimes carry intensified penalties.”

When asked whether the law becomes more sensitive to theft during wartime, Barzin explained: “In the previous penal code, theft in earthquake-stricken or wartime areas was grounds for the maximum penalty. However, the current code does not make such a distinction for theft.”

Barzin also noted that according to Article 509 of the Islamic Penal Code, anyone who commits crimes against internal or external security during wartime can receive the maximum penalty. This situation can be extremely dangerous for political activists because authorities often interpret their activities as “espionage” or threats to national security.

The Goal of Bombing Stations is to Create Chaos

The bombing of IRGC and Basij military centers is described by U.S. and Israeli forces as an effort to weaken military capabilities. In contrast, attacks on police stations are framed as attempts to weaken the system used for domestic repression. However, a key question remains unresolved: who will protect citizens from ordinary criminals during such a conflict?

Sociologist Dr. Saeid Peyvandi told IranWire that maintaining law and order requires the presence of a central government with at least minimal authority. “The absence or weakness of a government, or the existence of multiple rival governments in a region, contributes to general chaos. Despite all its weaknesses, we are not yet witnessing chaos in Iran.”

Political activist Babak Darbiqi offers a different interpretation. He argues that attacks on police stations, which serve as the main structures for preventing crime, are intentional. According to him: “This war was started purposefully by Israel, and the goal is to drive Iran into such chaos that the country cannot stand on its own feet.” In his view, this strategy serves an Israeli objective of regional dominance by neutralizing Iran as a security threat.

While many Iranians remain worried about their lives and property during the bombardment, Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Iranian public on March 9, 2026, saying: “Soon, conditions will be created where you can take your fate into your own hands… be ready.” The following day, March 10, Reza Pahlavi released a video message urging people: “Continue to strike and do not go to work. To show your unity, continue the nightly chants with power.”

Reflecting on the events of the 1979 Revolution, Darbiqi offered a warning: “During the fall of the Pahlavi government, all administrative and security infrastructure reached the victors intact. However, war and destruction leave no structure behind to provide services. Any future force that takes over in Iran will need a minimum of infrastructure to protect the people from professional criminals.”