Iranians defy Islamic regime with Halloween celebrations; several reportedly detained

Iranians defied the Islamic regime’s restrictions by celebrating Halloween across the country over the past week, with young people taking to the streets in costumes and some women appearing without hijabs. Security forces reportedly broke up gatherings in Tehran on Friday, beating and detaining several participants.

Despite official warnings and restrictions, videos shared on social media showed Iranians taking part in Halloween festivities, challenging the country’s strict social and religious rules. Iranian media also reported that authorities had moved to prevent celebrations in several cities.

However, some Iranians have pushed back against attempts to portray the festivities as evidence that the Islamic Republic is becoming more tolerant. They say people are taking personal risks to challenge restrictions rather than benefiting from any easing of government controls.

Nazanin Nour, an Iranian-American actress and writer, challenged such interpretations in an online post, saying that people in Iran push boundaries at their own risk, as repression remains enshrined in law. She argued that the regime was not easing restrictions.

Iranian security forces and plainclothes officers broke up a Halloween gathering in central Tehran on Friday, beating and detaining several participants, Iran International reported, citing witnesses.

Young people wearing make-up and costumes were also dispersed by Basij forces after gathering near Tehran’s Artists Park, according to the report.

“It was like the protests. They were running after people and shouting, ‘Disperse!’” a witness told Iran International, describing how families were ordered to leave the area.

Videos circulating online also showed several women defying Iran’s strict dress code by appearing without headscarves and wearing clothes that exposed parts of their legs.

The celebrations came amid renewed efforts by authorities to crack down on violations of the country’s mandatory hijab laws and redeploy morality police across the country.

Restrictions with no legal basis

The Iranian legal advocacy network Dadbaan warned earlier this week that authorities had imposed new restrictions on Halloween celebrations in several cities, forcing a number of cultural centres to cancel planned events.

Among the venues that announced cancellations were Isal Café in Isfahan and the Madam and Monsieur Mansion. Staff at the latter specifically cited compliance with the law and “Islamic proprieties” as reasons for cancelling the event.

The Cultural Heritage Department in the city of Aran va Bidgol also prohibited Halloween celebrations, saying the move was necessary to protect “Islamic and Iranian values”.

However, Dadbaan stressed that no Iranian law explicitly prohibits the sale of Halloween-related goods, organising celebrations or displaying themed decorations in restaurants and cafés.

The Islamic Republic has frequently targeted gothic and alternative subcultures, often branding them “satanic”. Even before the latest conflicts with Israel and the crackdown on January’s protests, shops accused of selling clothing featuring “unconventional logos and symbols” had faced threats of closure.

‘Everyone protests individually’

Beni Sabti, an Iran expert at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), told The Jerusalem Post that Halloween celebrations had grown in scale and significance in Iran this year, describing them as a form of cultural protest.

“Listening to music, playing music in the streets, going without hijab, all these clips that you see, it’s kind of a protest,” he said.

He added that many people were reluctant to join large-scale demonstrations but were finding individual ways to express their opposition.

“They don’t even know if they want to be in a huge protest. So everyone protests individually,” he said.

Sabti also noted that Halloween costumes had become more daring this year, with more masks and gothic-themed outfits than in previous years, when cat and mouse costumes were more common.

Source: The Jerusalem Post