Arrest of 13 Youths in a Restaurant in Tehran on Charges of 'Carrying Satanic Symbols'

According to reports from several Iranian news agencies, Tehran police have arrested 13 boys and girls in a restaurant on charges of carrying 'symbols and emblems of satanic groups.' Several Iranian news agencies, including Fars News Agency, reported that officers from the 109th precinct in Baharestan were informed on Friday, October 20, about a gathering of boys and girls who are inclined towards satanism in a restaurant on one of the streets in District 12. According to this report, the police arrested these individuals 'while they were carrying symbols and emblems of satanic groups.' The police did not provide further details about the arrest, and it is unclear what this agency means by 'satanism.' In some cases, officials of the Islamic Republic have used the term 'satanists' to refer to fans of metal music bands. This genre of music, which is a subset of rock music, critiques many social relations and political processes through the use of symbols and protest songs. Previously, police officials have reported the arrest of individuals described as 'satanists' or accused of distributing 'satanic items.' For instance, Reza Bastou, head of Tehran's preventive police, reported on Tuesday, October 17, that two 25-year-olds were arrested for 'selling satanic items' including 'clothes, long and colorful boots, headbands, and printed wristbands.' Mr. Bastou claimed that these two confessed to earning three million tomans daily from the sale of satanic items. Over the past two years, reports of arrests of individuals in various cities in Iran for participating in 'mixed parties' and 'consuming alcoholic beverages' have increased, with reports of groups of youths being arrested in different provinces. These arrests, which occur in various cities in Iran, have even extended to birthday and wedding celebrations, with dozens arrested or released on bail and fines. In this context, 64 boys and girls were arrested at a 'pool party' near Isfahan, three 'night party venues' were shut down in Kerman, 90 boys and girls were arrested for water play in Sepidan, Fars, 60 boys and girls were arrested at a 'night party' in Gorgan, and 55 men and women were arrested at a mixed party in Kerman.