Arrest of 20 Individuals at a Mixed Night Party in East Azerbaijan

Taqi Fathali Zadeh, the head of the judicial district of Soufian in East Azerbaijan Province, announced the arrest of 20 individuals at a "mixed night party." According to a report on Tuesday (August 9), from the Mizan News Agency, affiliated with the judiciary, these individuals were detained in one of the villas in the tourist-recreational area of the "Amend" dam. As Fathali Zadeh stated, an individual or individuals reported the holding of this party to the police, and "immediately the necessary judicial orders were issued to the police officers in this regard." According to the report, the "accused have been released with a suitable legal order, and the case is undergoing legal procedures." The head of the Soufian judicial district also warned that any form of "chaos, disorder, and immoral acts that undermine the dignity of Islamic and revolutionary values will be legally addressed." In recent weeks, news regarding the arrest of individuals in various cities of Iran for participating in "mixed parties" and "private gatherings" has increased. Typically, accusations against participants in these parties include "mixing of men and women," "unveiling," and "consumption of alcoholic beverages." On August 25, the commander of the police force in the western region of Tehran reported the arrest of 150 girls and boys at a "night party" in one of the gardens in the Islamshahr area. Mohsen Khancharli accused the detainees of intending to "make a clip and send it to satellite networks." On the first of this month, Mojtaba Mohammadi, the head of the judiciary in Damavand, reported the arrest of over 50 girls and boys at a "night party" in the city of Abasrd, stating that the officers became aware of the celebration after "monitoring social media." In June, the implementation of flogging sentences for 35 students due to their participation in a "mixed night party" in Qazvin faced significant protests and criticisms in Iran. Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the judiciary deemed the execution of this sentence as "legal" and stated that the judiciary has "evidence and indications" that such "parties" were held under the guidance of a specific current.