Iran detains 22 men and women for attending mixed-gender party

Prosecutor says ‘some alcoholic beverages were confiscated’

In Iran it is illegal to drink alcohol or hold parties attended by Muslim men and women who are not related (Nazanin Tabatabaee/WANA via REUTERS)

Iranian police have detained 22 men and women at a mixed-gender party in Tehran province, the country’s official news agency has said.

The party, illegal under Iranian law, was held in a villa near the city of Damavand, IRNA reported.

Damavand prosecutor Hassan Ebrahimi was quoted as saying 13 men and nine women were arrested.

He said “some alcoholic beverages were confiscated from them”.

Police took possession of all the participants’ cars, the report said.

In Iran it is illegal to drink alcohol or hold parties attended by Muslim men and women who are not related.

Partygoers are typically detained for a brief amount of time, but could also be charged.