Iran's Judiciary Claims to Have 'Dismantled' a 'Tattoo Gang'

Iran's judiciary has announced that it has 'dismantled' a 'gang tattooing symbols of Satanism and obscenity' and arrested its members. According to Tasnim News Agency on December 13, Judge Mansouri stated that 'intelligence actions' regarding 'members of this gang' were initiated following what was described as 'the spread of promotional activities on social networks.' The Iranian judicial official mentioned that 'three main members of this gang' had rented a house where they performed tattoos. Judge Mansouri stated that the tattoos included 'immoral images, symbols of Satanism, and symbols of Western and vulgar culture.' He did not provide further details, and Tasnim published an image of the Star of David and writings in Hebrew, the exact relevance of which to the news is unclear. The Iranian judicial official told Tasnim that the arrested individuals had, 'in some cases,' engaged in 'illicit relationships' with girls and women. He warned that the prosecutor's office would deal decisively with such activities 'which are examples of sinful acts and the spread of a culture of debauchery and promiscuity.' The crackdown on tattoos in Iran is not new. In recent years, various government, judicial, and law enforcement officials have taken actions regarding this issue. For instance, the Physical Education Organization had warned athletes sent to the Olympics to cover their bodies so that any tattoos would not be visible. The Iranian state television has, in some cases, asked Iranian athletes to cover their tattoos to avoid issues during 'television broadcasts.' Reports indicate that in recent years, tattooing has become more widespread among Iranians. Last year, Tabnak News Agency reported that in a religious inquiry, 'a significant number and the majority' of Shia clerics stated that this practice 'is not forbidden and has no legal impediment.' On the other hand, Iran's Ministry of Health warned last summer that cupping and tattooing, which are performed almost without oversight and the usual health permits, alongside other factors such as ritualistic self-harm or injection drug use, are among the main causes of hepatitis C transmission in Iran. In countries where tattooing does not face government threats or opposition, legal and health regulations are applied to this practice. The identities of the three recently arrested individuals in Iran and the legal charges against them are still unclear. Three years ago, Iranian news agencies reported that Judge Mansouri, who was previously the head of the Culture and Media Prosecutor's Office, was introduced to oversee the Land Grabbing Prosecutor's Office and is now the head of the Third District Prosecutor's Office in Tehran. Iranian judicial authorities have dealt with various cases described as 'cultural corruption' in recent years; these actions have included the arrest and intimidation of fashion models, individuals labeled as 'badly veiled' or 'unveiled,' as well as artists and social activists. The crackdowns have faced criticism from human rights organizations, which describe them as intrusions into citizens' privacy and disregard for individual freedoms.