In Tehran, Iran, two girls have been arrested for making a video while dancing at the war memorial honouring those killed in the Iran-Iraq War that raged between 1980 and 1982. The video went viral on social media, in which both the girls were seen dancing at the ‘Sacred Defense War Memorial’.
According to reports, in the viral video, both the girls are wearing jeans, with one wearing a knitted jumper, and the other a blue top covered by a cardigan, but Iranian authorities have called their attire ‘indecent’. Their Instagram accounts have also been closed. Under Article 637 of Iran’s Penal Code, dancing in a public place is a crime, which can be punished with up to 99 lashes.
The mullahs 🇮🇷 arrested these two girls. Why? Because they were dancing. ایرانیان دوباره خواهند رقصید pic.twitter.com/lbNP8gDxao
— Avi Kaner ابراهيم אבי (@AviKaner) January 24, 2025
It is worth noting that dance has been banned in Iran since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Despite this, many youths protest by posting their dance videos on social media. In 2014 and 2018 as well, youths were given harsh punishment in cases of dancing. Due to the ban on dance, and social pressure, 16-year-old Arzoo Khawari had committed suicide in Iran in November 2024.
