Iranian Security Forces Crack Down on Halloween Gathering in Tehran

Iranian security forces and plainclothes officers cracked down on a Halloween gathering in central Tehran, beating and detaining participants while forcing nearby cafes to close. Eyewitnesses reported that young people wearing Halloween costumes and makeup gathered on Iranshahr Street near Tehran's Artists Park before police blocked the road.

Members of the Basij, a paramilitary force affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), along with plainclothes security personnel, entered the area to disperse the crowd. An eyewitness described the operation as resembling political protests, noting that families spending the evening at the park were also ordered to flee as security forces pursued individuals and shouted orders to clear the streets.

The crackdown follows a weekend of widespread celebrations across the Iranian capital, where thousands of young people, including young women with uncovered hair violating mandatory religious dress codes, walked the streets in costume. The festivities sparked sharp debate on social media, with conservative commentators condemning the celebrations and justifying the intervention of security forces.