Deputy Police Chief of Gilan Province announced that so far, since the beginning of the month of Ramadan, they have shut down 85 shops and arrested 100 people for breaking the mandatory fasting rules, namely serving food, eating, and drinking in public. Also, 1500 citizens have received warning notices for breaking these rules.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mehr News Agency, Deputy Police Chief of Gilan reported the indictment of175 businesses and the arrest of 100 people for breaking the Ramadan fasting rules.

According to the Deputy Police Chief, “During this time, more than 85 businesses have been closed and 1000 individuals who were eating and drinking in public received warning from the authorities, of which 400 people were forced to sign a  commitment letter attesting to not to breaking the Ramadan rules.” 

Earlier, Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri, Prosecutor-General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in a letter asked the commander chief of police for preventive measures against those who break the rules of Ramadan and do not respect Sharia laws.

Eating and drinking during the month of Ramadan have not been explicitly criminalized in Iranian laws. Based on Article 638 of the Islamic Penal Code, committing an act that the Islamic jurisprudence considers Haram (forbidden) can be subject to a penalty of either ten days to two months imprisonment or flogging of up to 74 lashes.