Iran police arrest, maul Filipino for wearing a tank top in public

[B]By JOJO DASS[/B] [I]Special to the Saipan Tribune[/I] [B]KISH ISLAND, Iran[/B]—A 23-year-old Filipino was mauled by immigration police after he tried to break free from his captors who took him to a dark secluded area near their detachment after arresting him for wearing a tank top in public.

Christopher Pilapil, a graphic artist, said he fought to break loose because he feared he would be raped. There had been several unconfirmed reports here about expatriates being raped; the reports however, could not immediately be verified.

Pilapil said he got suspicious when the officers ordered him into their patrol car and sped him in a different direction instead of taking him to an immigration office just behind the hotel where he was staying at–Farabi—and in which vicinity he was arrested.

Pilapil said he tried to escape upon alighting from the patrol car near the vicinity of the immigration police detachment, which was behind another hotel—Espadana—some 10 minutes away from Farabi, and where other expats, including Filipinos, were billeted.

“I ran because I was afraid that they would rape me. I have heard lots of stories about locals, even law enforcement officers, arresting visitors for minor offenses, and raping them,” he said.

He said he should have been given a warning as was the standard procedure and ordered home to change clothes.

He said the two officers inside the car, assisted by about a dozen more from the detachment, caught him back and subdued him as he struggled.

“One held my right leg; the other, my left one. Another held my right arm; and still another one grabbed my left arm. There was also another officer who held my head tight,” Pilapil said. He said he managed to break free by kicking those holding his legs, and shouting at the top of his lung for help to catch the attention of fellow Filipinos inside Espadana Hotel, who were, by then, already checking out the commotion from their bedroom windows.

Pilapil said one of the officers punched him in the face; another kicked him on the sides.

“They stopped when they noticed that people were watching,” Pilapil said.

He was then brought to the immigration office that was behind Farabi hotel and ordered to write and sign an apology letter, which he did.

Pilapil managed to make a phone call to one of his friends staying at Farabi, who immediately came to assist him.

Pilapil was arrested around 9:30pm, Dec. 30; he was released 1:30am, Dec. 31.

Iran observes strict laws on public conduct: Women are required to wear head scarves called shaila, and have their behinds covered with a wraparound cloth; men are not allowed to wear shorts and tank tops; unmarried couples are discouraged from showing public displays of affection. Loud laughter is also not allowed.

First offenders are given warnings; those found repeating the same offense are locked up and deported.

Being on Kish Island where they wait for their re-entry visas to the United Arab Emirates, most expats—visa runners as they are called—fear deportation because that would mean being transported to their home country at their own expense; it also reduces their chances of going abroad for work again.

Pilapil, a visa runner, had been staying on Kish Island for over a month. His re-entry visa was finally issued on Dec. 31. He hurriedly left for Dubai because of fear for his life.

Repeated efforts to contact immigration officials for comments failed.