The socially conservative Islamic Republic launched a crackdown two years ago on “indecent Western-inspired movements”, such as rappers and satanists, as part of a widening clampdown on conduct the authorities deem immoral.
Public prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi said moral security police on Thursday evening received a tip-off that a group of people were secretly selling tickets to a live music performance.
“Police entered the venue where this illegal concert was being held … 80 boys and girls in inappropriate outfits and under abnormal conditions were arrested,” he was quoted as saying by the ISNA news agency, without elaborating.
He said their cases were sent to a Tehran court, where they were charged with taking part in “lustful pleasure-seeking” activities, adding that alcohol had also been seized.
Under Iran’s Islamic law, unrelated men and women are banned from touching or dancing with members of the opposite sex. Alcohol and narcotics are also illegal in Iran.
(Reporting by Hashem Kalantari; writing by Fredrik Dahl; editing by Matthew Jones)
