106 Business Units Closed in Hamedan; The Decline of Businesses During Ramadan

According to the head of Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, during Ramadan, 366 food preparation, distribution, and sales centers were referred to judicial authorities, and as of today, 106 centers have been closed. Mohammad Mahdi Majzoub said to ISNA news agency that the number of public places referred to judicial authorities was 66, of which 21 public places were also closed. The public relations office of the General Department of Industry, Mining, and Trade of Sistan and Baluchestan province reported that in the implementation of the special supervisory plan for Ramadan, only on one day (Saturday, April 7), 12 cases were formed against violating business units, and 4 business units were closed in Zahedan. On Friday, April 6, the IRIB news agency also announced that in the implementation of the "Social Security Enhancement" plan in the field of businesses and dealing with "disrespect" during Ramadan, 7 violating business units were closed in Jiroft. Reports indicate that in the implementation of control and supervisory plans for businesses during Ramadan, the police of Hormozgan province closed 107 units due to non-compliance with regulations and referred 13 men and 1 woman to judicial authorities. In this context, on April 1, the head of the public places supervision department of the Khuzestan police announced the sealing of 55 violating business units in Ahvaz, considering the arrival of the holy month of Ramadan and the "necessity of dealing with public eating during the day." Continuing the closure of restaurants and food vendors during Ramadan, news sources in Iran reported on April 9 the closure of 42 business units in Mashhad, 30 units in Isfahan, and 6 units in Qazvin. Eating and drinking in public during Ramadan is prohibited from dawn to sunset in Iran, and is considered "public eating without a valid excuse," which is deemed a sinful act and can lead to punishments including flogging. According to Article 638 of the Islamic Penal Code, "Anyone who openly displays a forbidden act in public and on the streets, in addition to the punishment of the act, shall be sentenced to imprisonment from 10 days to 2 months or up to 74 lashes, and if the act committed does not carry a punishment but violates public decency, they will only be sentenced to imprisonment from 10 days to 2 months or 74 lashes." The Isfahan police reported the arrest of "those involved in the assault on the enforcer of virtue" and the closure of a business unit. The sealing of businesses during Ramadan has resulted in approximately 80 units being closed in Mashhad, Isfahan, and Qazvin. Businesses continue to be targeted by judicial actions; a café-restaurant in Kerman was closed and its manager was arrested. A judicial official reported the closure of 65 business units in 12 days in Hamedan. Increased pressure on businesses during Ramadan; the closure of food vendors has become widespread. The closure of shops during Ramadan; 15 restaurants and food vendors in Dezful were shut down.