55 Men and Women Arrested at a Party in Birjand

The police chief of South Khorasan Province announced the arrest of 55 individuals who, according to him, participated in a "mixed party" in Birjand. On Wednesday, February 4, the IRNA news agency reported that Majid Shoja stated that the police had been informed about the party through "public information" before it took place. According to Shoja, the police learned prior to the event that "a woman of known identity, along with her husband who is not a resident of the province, intended to hold a mixed night party and engage in acts against public morality in Birjand County." He did not provide further details about the couple organizing the party or his claims regarding their intentions to commit what he termed "acts against public morality." The police chief stated that public security officers in South Khorasan Province arrested "a number of unrelated men and women" who were present at the party, which he described as being mixed, with inappropriate and offensive hijab, arriving in expensive cars for the event. He also added that the sound systems at the party were "very loud" and that "due to the high volume of cars and the number of participants, traffic restrictions were created in the area." Shoja reported that the exact number of those arrested was "32 men and 23 women" and added that in addition to them, "the main organizer of the party along with his assistants was also arrested." He mentioned that the detainees were handed over to judicial authorities and warned that "units that provide musical and sound equipment, fog machines, and other supplies for holding parties" would also be dealt with. The police chief simultaneously warned that "the discovered items from the party location would be confiscated and the party venue and non-compliant business locations would be sealed." This is not the first time that police forces in Birjand have raided private parties and arrested participants. On January 9 of this year, the public and revolutionary prosecutor of Birjand reported the arrest of 36 individuals at a "night party" in the city, stating that these individuals attended the event under the guise of a "birthday celebration." Hossein Moghadess also announced that the police had been informed of the party before it began and after arriving at the location, arrested "a large number of girls, boys, women, and men" who, according to him, were "dancing mixed with loud music and engaging in inappropriate behavior." He reported that the number of detainees was 28 men and 8 women, and added that "during the inspection of the location, some alcoholic beverages and opium, as well as a large number of plastic containers soaked in alcohol were discovered." According to this judicial official, some of the women arrested at this party were "previous offenders who did not observe Islamic hijab, and the main accused in this case was the woman for whom the birthday celebration was held." The prosecutor of Birjand warned that the judiciary would decisively deal with "night parties that usually share several characteristics, namely the mixing of genders, the consumption of alcoholic beverages, and vulgar behaviors." He also added that individuals who "encourage or facilitate corruption and prostitution among youth or commit acts against public morality would be punished according to Articles 637 and 639 of the Penal Code with imprisonment from one to ten years and corporal punishment." In recent years, reports of arrests in various cities of Iran for participating in "mixed parties" and "consuming alcoholic beverages" have increased, and reports have emerged about the arrest of several young people in different provinces. These arrests have even extended to family gatherings such as birthday and wedding celebrations, and so far dozens have been arrested or released on bail and fines in this regard. At least in 2017, reports were published about the arrest of "230 girls and boys in two separate parties in Farmanieh and Lavasan" in Tehran, "64 girls and boys at a "pool party" near Isfahan," "55 men and women at a party in Kerman," and "45 men and women at a "mixed party" in Qom. Additionally, there have been reports of the sealing of centers "holding night parties" and the arrest of several individuals in this regard in various cities of Iran. The Iranian police have repeatedly arrested many individuals by raiding parties, celebrations, and private events since the 1979 revolution, especially in recent years. The extent of police intervention in private parties, which peaked in the early days of the revolution in 1979 and had subsided for years, has increased again in the last two years following a directive from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to confront what he calls "social harms."