100 People Arrested; 85 Businesses Closed for Breaking Ramadan Rules

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.

14 Businesses Closed for Serving Food During Ramadan

The Public Security Police of the Law Enforcement Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran (NAJA) announced the closure of 14 restaurants and snack bars for serving food during the holy month of Ramadan in Lorestan Province. Moreover, three citizens were arrested for breaking the mandatory fasting rules, as eating and drinking in public during Ramadan is forbidden.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting IRIB News Agency, in Lorestan Province 14 businesses were shut down due to serving food during Ramadan.

The Head of Public Security Police of NAJA, Ahmadreza Ahmadian stated:

“Following an action plan to surveil businesses during the month of Ramadan, 14 businesses were closed due to breaking the fasting rules and serving food to people. Also, 124 businesses received warning notice for failure to observe Ramadan rules.”

Additionally, three citizens were arrested for eating and drinking in public.

Earlier, Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri, Prosecutor-General of Iran in a letter asked the chief commander 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, however, 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 for up to 74 lashes.

Security Forces Arrested at Least 26 Citizens in the Cities of Ahvaz and Mahshahr

At least 26 citizens were arrested in the cities of Ahvaz and Mahshahr and transferred to an unknown location between May 14 and May 16. Additionally, several citizens with histories of  arrest have been summoned for detainment by security services over the phone.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the arrests were made after Eid al-Fitr ceremonies, at which attendants danced and chanted slogans in front of the homes of citizens who were either killed in the November 2019 national protests or executed in recent years.

So far, HRANA has verified the names of “Rasoul Zuhairi son of Karim; Shaker Silawi, Mohammad Silawi, Qais Sawari, Walid Sawari, Hamzeh Chaldawi 34 years old, married, and father of 4 children; Hossein Mazra’eh, Hassan Hezbawi son of Ramazan; Hadi Hezbawi son of Ramazan; Mohsen Hezbawi son of Ramazan; Jamil Hezbawi son of Lefteh; Badrieh Hamidawi, Amin Amir Hatami, 23 years-old; Faisal Hezbawi, son of Ramazan; Keramat Hezbawi, son of Ramazan; and Mojtaba Salihawi from Mahshahr”.

“In the Zoyeh alley in Ahvaz, several citizens gathered in front of the house of Ms. Badrieh Hamidawi, the mother of Ali Tamimi, one of the victims of the November 2019 national protest, and chanted slogans,” an informed source told HRANA. “Ms. Hamidawi was arrested because she greeted them.”

The whereabouts of these citizens and the charges against them are unknown as of this writing. It is worth noting, however, that every year during the months of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, many Sunni Arab citizens in the Khuzestan province get detained under various pretexts.