Iran anti-vice chief 'in brothel'

Iranian police are charged with enforcing strict anti-vice laws

Tehran's police chief, who was reportedly discovered in a brothel, has been arrested, it has been confirmed.

Local media have reported that General Reza Zarei was found with six naked women in a house of prostitution in the Iranian capital last month.

He has been taken to jail while his case is investigated, a spokesman for Iran's judiciary said.

Gen Zarei was in charge of enforcing Iran's strict anti-vice laws, which include a ban on prostitution.

State media had recently reported that Gen Zarei had been replaced as police chief in Tehran, but had not explained why.

Sex taboo

Iran has tough punishments for unmarried couples who have sex or behave in a manner considered immoral.

Young people have been jailed or flogged for dancing together at house parties.

The public dress code can be tightly enforced, with women barred from showing their hair or wearing make up or colourful clothes and men from wearing their hair long.

For years the hardline Iranian establishment never admitted that prostitution existed.

They now acknowledge the problem, though, and prostitutes are becoming more visible on the streets, correspondents say.