Warning to Athletes and Artists About Participation in 'Vulgar Sessions'

Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, the public and revolutionary prosecutor of Tehran, warned athletes and artists on Tuesday about participating in 'vulgar and illegal sessions.' According to Young Journalists Club, Mr. Dolatabadi stated that 'if athletes and artists participate in vulgar sessions and their charges are confirmed, their names will be announced.' These remarks were made during a meeting with several judges on Tuesday evening, May 21. Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi added that 'the fight against corruption must be comprehensive and without discrimination and include every official.' This warning came about a week after the judiciary news agency reported the arrest of seven famous actors at a party in northern Tehran. Two days ago, the spokesperson for the judiciary announced that Mehrdad Oladi, a former player of the Persepolis and Esteghlal football teams, lost his life due to 'drug and alcohol use.' Last year, Sosha Makani, the goalkeeper of the Persepolis team, was briefly detained following the publication of several of his photos on social media. Gholamhossein Esmaili, the head of the Tehran judiciary, emphasized last week that 'cultural care' for the country's athletes and artists should be increased and suggested that the crime prevention department of the judiciary should enter this area. According to Mr. Esmaili, Iranian athletes and artists are exposed to 'many harms' and must 'vaccinate' themselves against these harms.