The Iranian police warned that during Ramadan, they will take action against individuals who, according to them, 'clearly violate norms.' On Saturday, June 6, the police urged travelers, patients, and others with 'religious excuses' to refrain from eating or drinking in public spaces. The announcement emphasized that 'legal action will be taken against the few individuals who may visibly violate norms.' The police also stated that hotels, roadside restaurants, and airport restaurants can serve travelers 'with permission from relevant authorities' and by covering 'their space.' According to this announcement, other restaurants can only operate from half an hour before Iftar until dawn. The police also announced that cinemas can operate until dawn. Meanwhile, Hossein Sajedi-Nia, the head of Tehran's police, emphasized that cinema owners must coordinate with the Tehran Places Administration to obtain permission to operate until dawn. Every year before the start of Ramadan in Iran, police officials warn that they will act against individuals who engage in 'eating during the fast' in public places. Some judicial officials in Iranian provinces have also reported the establishment of special branches for 'eating during the fast' cases. In previous years, some individuals in Iranian provinces have been flogged for 'eating during the fast.' These actions occur while 'the Islamic Penal Code does not mention punishment for eating during the fast in public,' and according to reports, judges refer to the part of the Islamic Penal Code that states 'displaying any forbidden act in public is a crime.' According to the Islamic Penal Code, anyone who publicly displays a forbidden act in public places can be sentenced to imprisonment from 10 days to two months or up to 74 lashes. Meanwhile, Amnesty International stated in a statement on Wednesday, January 18, 2017, that young people in Iran are flogged under a 'legalized violence' system for eating food during Ramadan or participating in mixed parties.
Police Warning About 'Visible Norm Violations' During Ramadan
The Iranian police have issued a warning regarding visible norm violations during Ramadan, stating that they will take legal action against those who eat or drink in public. This announcement affects travelers and individuals with religious excuses, highlighting ongoing enforcement of religious norms in public spaces. The situation reflects the broader context of legal and social restrictions in Iran.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Iranian police announced they will take legal action against individuals who visibly eat or drink in public during Ramadan, emphasizing enforcement of religious norms. This includes restrictions on restaurant operations and potential punishments for violations.
- Police will act against public eating and drinking during Ramadan, with specific exemptions for travelers.
- Previous punishments for violations have included flogging, despite the Islamic Penal Code not explicitly stating such penalties.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran enforces strict Islamic laws that regulate public behavior, especially during religious observances like Ramadan. Past incidents of punishment for norm violations illustrate the severity of enforcement.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%