Iran arrests 230 young partygoers for drinking, dancing

Iranian police detain 230 young men and women at separate parties in the capital Tehran in which alcohol was involved, ISNA news agency reported on Friday.

Society

2 min read

The New Arab

22 December, 2017

Authorities in Iran regularly carry out raids to clampdown "corrupting influences" [AFP]

Authorities in Iran detained 230 young men and women at separate private party venues in Tehran over the involvement of music and alcohol, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported on Friday.

Tehran police arrested 140 of the young party goers in a garden on the outskirts of Tehran and 90 in the city's uptown while dancing and drinking alcohol on Thursday night.

Police said they seized alcoholic beverages and psychotropic drugs during the raid.

They claim they were alerted to the parties when some participants posted invitations on the social media platform Instagram.

Thursday night marked the "Yalda night", a Persian festive occasion marking the longest and darkest night of the year.

Authorities in Iran regularly carry out raids on private parties in attempt to clampdown "corrupting influences" in the Islamic Republic.

In August, they arrested dozens of "half-naked" youths during a party in Isfahan, where the partygoers were allegedly found drinking alcohol and dancing.

Alcohol and gender mixing are banned under the country's strict moral laws, which were introduced after the 1979 revolution.

Crimes involving drug abuse, adultery and "spreading corruption" can land the accused with a death penalty in Iran. Lesser offences often result in fines, jail terms or lashes.