Tourists at 'Opert' Resort Beaten by Security Forces; Eyewitness: They Demanded Alcohol

On Thursday night, July 29, a number of security agents, reportedly dressed in 'IRGC uniforms', violently attacked tourists at the 'Opert' resort located on the border of Semnan and Mazandaran provinces. An eyewitness told VOA that a few hours after their arrival at the Opert resort, two armed vehicles with IRGC insignia approached them and violently demanded that women adhere to hijab rules before leaving the area. However, according to an informed source speaking to VOA, the agents returned later that night and severely beat the tourists with 'stun guns and tear gas'. The eyewitness reported that the agents, using 'vulgar language and pure violence', reminded the tourists that 'it is the month of Muharram' while demanding that they hand over any 'alcoholic beverages' they had. The informed source stated that the agents, disregarding the presence of children, severely assaulted the tourists with 'batons, stun guns, and kicks', tore down all the tents, and left the area after failing to find any evidence of alcoholic beverages. The source added that these days, the only weapon they have to fight the Islamic Republic is 'to live', and they will continue to resist in this way. Opert is a forested border area between Semnan and Mazandaran provinces, known for its pristine landscapes and the phenomenon of ocean clouds. With the onset of nationwide protests and women's refusal to comply with mandatory hijab laws, the Islamic Republic is attempting, under various pretexts and through the use of pressure and violence, to force all sectors of society to comply with mandatory hijab. Recently, the manager of a historical site in Kermanshah was dismissed by the provincial Cultural Heritage Administration for what was described as the presence of tourists 'without observing Islamic decorum'. A video of a marriage proposal at Hafezieh in Shiraz also faced significant backlash from the government, leading to the arrest of the site manager and the suspension of the provincial tourism director. Ezzatollah Zarghami, the Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, stated that one of the main problems in the tourism sector is the 'inadequate roadside sanitation facilities' due to the enforcement of mandatory hijab laws. He mentioned that when they cannot provide proper 'sanitation facilities', people question the credibility of other claims made by the government. Recently, Ibrahim Pourfaraj, head of the Iranian Tour Guides Society, noted that the situation for foreign tourist arrivals has not returned to pre-2019 levels since the nationwide protests last year, warning that if they remain indifferent, Iran will be removed from travel destinations. The influx of foreign tourists to Iran has nearly dropped to zero following the protests last autumn. On October 10, 2022, Mohsen Haji-Saeid, head of the board of the National Association of Tour Guides, announced that in the wake of the protests, Germany, Spain, South Africa, Brazil, and Australia had completely canceled all their tours to Iran. The Islamic Republic is trying to attract Arab, Russian, and Chinese tourists, while a trade official stated that foreigners are concerned about traveling to Iran. The crackdown on opponents of mandatory hijab continues, with a parliamentary representative stating that 'it cannot be resolved through arrests'. Alireza Akhundi urged tourists that not traveling to Iran is the 'least sacrifice' for freedom, while a cultural heritage ministry official, after dismissing a historical site manager, emphasized that respect for religious principles is a red line for them.