Arrest of Several Lawyers at a Night Party in Mahmoudabad

The head of the Protection and Information Center of the Judiciary of Mazandaran Province announced the arrest of more than 15 lawyers at a "night party" in the city of Sorkhroud, Mahmoudabad. According to the Mazandaran Judiciary website, quoting Nabiullah Moslemi, these lawyers were arrested last Thursday at a villa. Mr. Moslemi stated that these individuals were arrested while wearing "inappropriate and offensive clothing," consuming alcoholic beverages, and engaging in "mixed dancing." This judicial official reported the discovery and seizure of "quantities of alcoholic beverages and instruments of entertainment" from the location of this "party." Moslemi did not mention the identities of these lawyers but noted that two of them were from the provinces of Qom and Golestan. Bahram Olipour, a member of the board of the Mazandaran Bar Association, also announced on Sunday, 26 Ordibehesht, that "no lawyer from Mazandaran was arrested at this night party." Mr. Olipour added that "of the total detainees, only two were lawyers, neither of whom were affiliated with the Mazandaran Bar Association." According to him, "one of the arrested lawyers was from the Qom Bar Association and the other was a lawyer under Article 187 of the Judiciary from Golestan Province." In Iran, participation in mixed private events and celebrations can lead to arrests, and hundreds of reports on this issue have been published in the media over the past 35 years. On 15 Ordibehesht of this year, the news agency "Mizan," affiliated with the Judiciary, reported the arrest of "seven famous cinema actors" at a "night party" in northern Tehran.