Closure of Three 'Night Party Venues' in Kerman

The public prosecutor and revolutionary prosecutor of Kerman province announced the closure of three 'night party venues' and the arrest of 18 individuals in this regard. Dadkhoda Salari stated on Tuesday, August 8, to the Mizan news agency, affiliated with the judiciary, that these individuals were arrested on the outskirts of Kerman city as part of a special plan for 'combating immorality.' He added that the closure of three 'garden houses' that served as venues for 'night parties' occurred recently following 'detailed information gathering by the police and police operations.' According to him, after the closure of these centers, 'the main organizers and owners of these places were pursued, and a total of 18 individuals involved in these gatherings were arrested.' This judicial official considered the holding of 'night parties' as a sign that 'the enemy has broken our borders and entered the realm of society and homes,' and the prosecutor's office will act 'revolutionarily' in dealing with 'manifestations of immorality and corruption.' Police commanders in various provinces of Iran have long spoken about raiding gardens and halls where, according to them, there is a possibility of mixed celebrations, and they have reported the closure of some of them. In the past two years, reports of the arrest of citizens in various provinces for participating in 'mixed parties' have increased, which, according to some reports, is in line with the wishes of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and aimed at combating 'social harms.' These arrests, which occur in various cities in Iran, have even extended to birthday and wedding celebrations, and so far, dozens have been arrested or released on bail and fines. On May 6 of this year, the public prosecutor of Kerman also reported the 'destruction of a large gang organizing night parties' in this city and the arrest of 55 women and men in this regard. Since the 1979 revolution, the Iranian police have repeatedly raided parties, celebrations, and private ceremonies, arresting many and handing them over to judicial authorities. The extent of police intervention in private parties, which peaked in the early days of the revolution and had subsided for years, has increased again in the past two years following Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's order to confront 'social harms.' Over the years, the Iranian police have raided dozens of private parties and celebrations, arresting groups of participants in these events. In this context, 120 individuals were arrested at a night party in eastern Tehran, 44 at a party in Mashhad, and a new wave of arrests in mixed parties in Iran includes 23 boys and girls related to a 'mixed party' in Dezful, while police in Rasht arrested 30 individuals at a 'mixed celebration.'