55 Men and Women Arrested at Mixed Party in Kerman

The public prosecutor and revolutionary prosecutor of Kerman announced the "destruction of a large gang organizing night parties" in the city and the arrest of 55 men and women in this regard. According to ISNA news agency, Dadkhoda Salari said on Sunday, May 7, that these 55 men and women were "consuming alcoholic beverages and dancing in a mixed manner" at the time of their arrest. He stated that the Kerman prosecutor's office, after receiving reports about the formation of a gang led by a well-known individual from the affluent class engaged in organizing parties and committing sins, prioritized action against the members of this "gang." According to this judicial official, the Kerman police, after monitoring some members of this "gang," identified the "location of the party in one of the houses in Kerman" and arrested the participants following the "issuance of a judicial order." Dadkhoda Salari added that the location of this party has been sealed off as a "crime scene" by judicial order. He also mentioned that "19 luxury and expensive vehicles, two heavy motorcycles, 10 liters of alcoholic beverages, and other crime tools were discovered and confiscated from the suspects." This judicial official did not specify what the "other crime tools" were. According to this report, the public prosecutor and revolutionary prosecutor of Kerman warned that "the Westernized and followers of the degenerate Western culture" will not be allowed to "distort the religious image of Kerman province with their norm-breaking and criminal acts." Last week, the public prosecutor and revolutionary prosecutor of Qom also reported the arrest of 45 men and women at a "night party" in a furniture workshop. Mehdi Kaheh stated that it was "established" for the officers that the participants in this party committed "crimes such as promoting and creating grounds for corruption and prostitution, consuming alcohol, and engaging in illicit relationships." The police and judiciary of Iran frequently publish news about the arrests of participants in private parties that they deem "illegitimate" due to being "mixed." These arrests, which occur in various cities of Iran, have even extended to birthday and wedding celebrations, and dozens have been arrested or released on bail and fines in this context.