Iranian footballers arrested at mixed-gender party, released

Local media in Tehran stated that Iranian officials had arrested football players who were attending a mixed-gender party that had been planned in the east of the capital. However, neither their identities nor the precise number of players arrested were given.

“Several current and former players of one of Tehran’s prominent football clubs were arrested last night (Saturday) at a mixed party in the city of Damavand,” Tasnim news agency reported.

“Some of these players were in an abnormal state due to alcohol consumption,” it further stated.

A prosecutor was quoted by Fars news agency as saying that the authorities have filed a complaint against those detained. YJC news agency claimed that the footballers were at a birthday party and that everyone who was held has been released except for one individual who is not a footballer.

Only non-Muslims are permitted to use alcohol in Iran, and only for religious reasons. Furthermore, dancing with someone of a different gender is illegal. In the wake of Mahsa Amini’s death on September 16 while in the care of Iran’s contentious morality policy after being detained for reportedly not donning her hijab properly, protests have erupted across the nation.

After expressing their support for the protests that have swept the nation for more than three months, many former and current football players as well as other athletes have been interrogated or detained by the government authorities.