Arrest of 20 Young Men and Women at a 'Night Party' in Shiraz

On Saturday, September 6, the deputy commander of the Basij Resistance Force of the 'Mohammad Rasoulallah' Corps in Shiraz announced the arrest of 20 young men and women at a 'night party' in the city. This Basij official in Fars province stated that these individuals were arrested on Friday, September 5, under a judicial order during a 'night party' in the northwest of Shiraz and were handed over to judicial authorities. According to Fars News Agency, Mehdi Abbasi Arjomandi said that this action was taken based on public reports and aimed at combating the 'promotion of Western culture' and 'preventing social anomalies and issues.' The deputy commander of the Basij Resistance Force in Shiraz also urged the organizers and participants of such 'illegal gatherings' to refrain from holding events 'contrary to Islamic principles.' In the past three months, police have arrested hundreds of young men and women during parties in various cities across Iran. Provinces such as Tehran, Golestan, Mazandaran, East Azerbaijan, Hormozgan, and Kerman have seen significant arrests of young people during raids on night parties and celebrations. In the latest case, Mostafa Haqi, the public and revolutionary prosecutor of Gorgan, reported on September 3 the arrest of 40 young men and women at a 'night party' in the village of Ziarat in southern Gorgan. The prosecutor stated that the charges against these individuals included 'drinking alcohol' and 'illicit relationships.' According to the Mizan News Agency, affiliated with the Iranian judiciary, Mostafa Haqi mentioned that 'the implementation of plans to confront social anomalies and manifestations of improper hijab is on the prosecutor's agenda, and the judiciary will decisively address these cases.' Ali Talebi, the prosecutor of Amol County, also reported on August 30 the arrest of 20 young men and women at a 'night party' in Amol, stating that they were handed over to judicial authorities after a case was filed. Previously, Youssef Malekzadeh, the police chief of Shiraz, reported on August 29 the arrest of 63 'semi-naked' young men and women at two 'night parties' in the northeastern part of the city. Fars News Agency also reported on August 16 the arrest of 60 young men and women at a 'night party' in a roadside teahouse in the Sarakhsar Forest Park in Tehran by Basij forces. According to Mizan News Agency, 20 young men and women were also arrested in mid-August at a villa in the tourist-recreational area of the 'Amend' dam in East Azerbaijan province. Another 150 young men and women were arrested in early August in one of the gardens of Islamshahr in southern Tehran, where Mohsen Khancharli, the police chief of western Tehran, accused them of 'attempting to make a clip for satellite networks.' Mojtaba Mohammadi, the head of the judiciary in Damavand, announced on August 1 that police arrested over 50 young men and women at a 'night party' in the city of Abasrd after 'monitoring social media' and learning about a celebration being held. In the previous June, Iranian judicial authorities reported the arrest of 62 individuals at a 'mixed night celebration' in Bandar Abbas, 23 individuals at a private party in Kerman, and 70 others at a party in the Farahzad area of Tehran. The arrests of individuals during parties in Iran have continued for about 38 years since the Islamic Revolution, and in some cases, those arrested have received sentences such as fines or lashes. Iranian judicial authorities often charge these individuals with 'participating in mixed parties, consuming alcoholic beverages, and engaging in illicit relationships.' In June, the execution of lashes for 35 students due to their participation in a 'mixed night party' in Qazvin faced significant protests and criticisms. Iranian officials refer to 'mixed night parties' as one of the 'social harms' and examples of 'cultural invasion.'