The Office of Supervision of Places in Fars Province has closed five cafes and part of a hotel in Shiraz due to the holding of Halloween celebrations, and several individuals have also been arrested. According to Fars News Agency, close to security agencies, these cafes and the 22nd and 25th floors of Chamran Hotel were closed on Tuesday, November 1, in coordination with the judicial authority for 'promoting Western culture.' The report states that the Office of Supervision of Places, along with the Information and Public Security Police in Fars Province, has introduced the arrested individuals to judicial authorities, but no details were provided regarding the number of detainees or the charges against them. Previously, the head of the board of directors of the Association of Travel Agencies of Iran, Hormatollah Rafiei, had called Halloween tours organized by travel agencies 'illegal' and 'a violation.' Two years ago, ILNA news agency reported, citing sociologists, that the main reason for people's interest in such events was the 'lack of entertainment and joy in society.' Officials of the Islamic Republic suppress social freedoms under the guise of 'promoting Western culture' and 'norm-breaking' and resort to punitive measures. Since last year, Iranian government agents have closed hundreds of businesses, including cafes, restaurants, sports clubs, medical offices, pharmacies, and tourism centers due to women's optional hijab. According to reports, the closure of businesses has become one of the methods of the Islamic Republic's confrontation with the people, and the government uses it as a tool of pressure. The closure of a hall hosting a ceremony honoring doctors due to the presence of a doctor without mandatory hijab, the arrest of a shopkeeper in Shahroud for resisting the command to promote virtue, the ongoing bread crisis; denial of price increases and closure of bakeries in the capital, and the continuation of closure therapy under the pretext of hijab; systematic violation of people's property by the government.
Several Cafes and Part of a Hotel in Shiraz Closed Due to Halloween Celebrations
Five cafes and parts of a hotel in Shiraz were closed for hosting Halloween celebrations, with several arrests made. This action reflects the Iranian government's ongoing crackdown on social freedoms, justified by claims of promoting Western culture. The closures highlight the increasing tensions between the government and citizens seeking more personal freedoms.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Iranian authorities closed cafes and a hotel in Shiraz for Halloween celebrations, arresting several individuals.
- Office of Supervision of Places in Fars Province close five cafes, Chamran Hotel
- Office of Supervision of Places and Information and Public Security Police arrest several individuals
- Hormatalah Rafiei designate Halloween tours organized by travel agencies
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Iranian government continues to suppress cultural expressions under the guise of maintaining societal norms.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%