The arrests took place at an overnight party in a garden in the vicinity of Islamshahr, south-west of Tehran, according to the Tasnim news agency, an affiliate of Revolutionary Guards Quds Force.  Tasnim reports Khancherli’s statement:

 “After we obtained a report about a mixed-gender party in a garden in the vicinity of Islamshahr in the west of Tehran Province, an operation was carried out by the police and another organization, leading to the arrest of dozens of boys and girls.”

Khancherli says that, “Some 150 boys and girls had gathered at the mixed-gender party under the guise of a birthday party in this garden which is situated next to a studio where unlawful music was produced and recorded. Upon arrival of the police, all those present were arrested and sent before the judiciary.”

The popularity of gardens in the west of Tehran Province makes them a target for constant monitoring by the regime’s suppressive state security forces (police), with police commanders carrying out snap inspections of sites. “With the arrival of summer, the police surveillance at these sites will be stepped up,” Khancherli added.

Tasnim’s news last week reported the arrest of more than 50 young Iranians at a party in the town of Davamand, near Tehran. They quoted Mojtaba Vahedi, head of the regime’s judiciary in Damavand, as saying that the organizers of the party had invited people to attend via online social networks, which were monitored.  After carrying out the necessary investigations , they obtained a warrant to arrest the party-goers.

Judicial files have been opened against those arrested at the party, Vahedi said. He added: “Families must be more vigilant regarding their children to make sure they do not end up in such circumstances.”

Shahin Gobadi of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) Commenting on this development,  “The clerical regime has never been so isolated at home and loathed by the Iranian people, in particular by the youth and women. As such, it is resorting to more and more repressive measures to confront this growing trend. This once again proves that the notion of moderation under Hassan Rouhani is a total myth. But it also indicates the vulnerable and shaky state of a regime that cannot even tolerate private festivities of the people, particularly the youth. It is becoming more evident that the mullahs are totally paranoid of any social gathering in fear of a popular uprising.”

Some 35 young men and women were flogged in May for taking part in a mixed-gender party after their graduation ceremony near Qazvin city.  Ismaeil Sadeqi Niaraki, a notorious mullah, said a special court session was held after all the young men and women at the party were rounded up, the Mizan news agency, affiliated to the fundamentalist regime’s judiciary, reported on May 26.  “After we received information that a large number of men and women were mingling in a villa in the suburbs of Qazvin … all the participants at the party were arrested,” he said.  Niaraki added that the following morning every one of those detained received 99 lashes as punishment by the so-called ‘Morality Police.’ According to Niaraki, given the social significance of mixed-gender partying, “this once again required a firm response by the judiciary in quickly reviewing and implementing the law.”

The actions of “law-breakers who use excuses such as freedom and having fun in birthday parties and graduation ceremonies.” will not be tolerated, according to the regime’s prosecutor.  In recent weeks similar raids have been carried out on mixed-gender parties across Iran.