KIRKUK, Kurdistan Region – Police in Kirkuk have shaven the hair of more than 70 people for allegedly drinking alcohol in public places and harassing pedestrians.

Photos of the elite SWAT security forces shaving the hair of young men in public places have gone viral on social media, reportedly published first by the police force.

A spokesperson for Kirkuk Police confirmed the practice to Rudaw, adding that this has helped to decrease certain phenomena he deemed inappropriate in Kirkuk.

“A very tough, broad and very good procedures have been conducted. These intensified [procedures] have now resulted in a significant decrease of certain phenomena in Kirkuk city,” Afrasyab Kamil Ways said.

He added that shaving their hair was aimed at making an example of these individuals.

“This is part of the procedures so that they will be made an example of for other people, and [to eliminate] these ugly phenomena they do against the people on the highways,” Ways explained, claiming that people who have visited the city of Kirkuk from the nearby Erbil and Sulaimani have complained that they were shot at by firearms on their way to the city.

The Kirkuk police have carried out the procedure based on orders from the Kirkuk governor Najmadin Karim who also heads the security committee in the province.

A member of the Kiurkuk’ Provincial Council told Rudaw that they are aware of the photos and since have investigated the issue.

She said the security authorities have told the Council that the procedure will not be repeated.

“We have been promised that never again the rights of the citizens should be violated no matter what crimes they were involved in,” Jwan Hasan, a member of the human rights committee said, adding that anyone caught in criminal activities have to go through the legal procedures set out by the court.

People interviewed by Rudaw in Kirkuk have relatively shown support for the Kikruk’s authorities to prevent people drinking in public places but they differed over the measures.

They ranged from imposing “big fines” on alcoholic drinks to taking preventative measures, with some believing that the public humiliation may not be the right course to stop people from drinking by the side of the road.