Contradictory Behaviors in Dealing with Joy; Dancing in Movies Allowed, but Banned in Rasht Market

After the harsh response from Islamic Republic officials towards an individual named "Sadegh Bouqi" whose dancing in the Rasht market went viral on social media, even supporters of the government reacted to the regime's confrontation with collective joy. Some users compared the dancing and joy of this man in the Rasht market with that of male actors in movies and series, referring to the regime's behavior as duality and contradiction in policies. One user on "X" wrote in response to this action: "On the same day that Mr. Ejei announced that the government has dismissed 60 individuals involved in a $3 billion tea corruption case; however, these individuals have not yet been referred to the judiciary, Sadegh Bouqi's Instagram account was blocked for producing criminal content. He sang and danced in the Rasht market." Another user sarcastically referred to the statements of the Minister of Culture about establishing a "Social Joy Headquarters" in the country, writing: "Those who cruelly do not even spare Sadegh Bouqi's Instagram page deserve to be ridiculous and clown-like, desperately seeking joy among the people, and when they need to, begging for the smallest joys." Many users also pointed out the closure of this 70-year-old man's Instagram page under the title of "criminal act," asking: "Can you explain what criminal act this man has committed?" Sadegh Bouqi, who works in the Rasht fish market, reacted to the closure of his Instagram page for dancing in an interview with the website "Fararu," stating: "I only want the happiness of the people and I try to change their spirits. Out of my 70 years of life, I have spent 50 years honking for football, and if I have any life left, I want to honk and dance for Iran for another 10 years because I am a true Iranian." A number of teenage girls also supported him on Friday by sharing a "dubs mash" of Uncle Sadegh's dance, writing: "The embezzlement of the sweet tea had no deadline for arrests, but the joy of the people was sealed and pursued and arrested in a flash. For Sadegh Bouqi of Rasht." Amid the air pollution crisis and new embezzlements, the release of the dance video led to the arrest of 12 people in Rasht. The arrest of 12 people and the seizure of several Instagram pages for publishing the dance video in the Rasht market exemplifies the endless hostility of the Islamic Republic towards the joy of the people; the uncertain status of the 12 detainees in Rasht.