Iran Security Forces Disperse Halloween Gatherings in Tehran

Iranian security forces and plainclothes officers broke up a Halloween celebration in central Tehran on Friday, beating and detaining several participants according to witness accounts.

The dispersal occurred near Tehran’s Artists Park, where young people wearing makeup and costumes gathered. The Basij, a volunteer paramilitary force, was involved in the operation. Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with officers running after attendees and shouting commands to disperse families.

One witness told Iran International, “It was like the protests. They were running after people and shouting, ‘Disperse!’” Footage shared online showed women defying strict dress codes by leaving their hair uncovered and exposing parts of their legs.

This crackdown coincides with a renewed effort to enforce mandatory hijab laws and redeploy morality police across the country. The events in Tehran follow earlier warnings and restrictions issued in several cities over the past week.

The Dadbaan legal advocacy network warned earlier in the week that new limits had been placed on Halloween festivities. In response, several cultural centers canceled planned events. In Isfahan, the Isal Café and the Madam and Monsieur Mansion issued cancellation notices. Staff at the Madam and Monsieur Mansion cited compliance with the law and “Islamic proprieties” as the primary reason for the decision.

The Cultural Heritage Department in the city of Aran va Bidgol also prohibited the celebrations, stating the need to preserve “Islamic and Iranian values.” However, Dadbaan noted that no existing law in Iran prohibits the sale of Halloween goods, the holding of such celebrations, or the use of themed decorations in commercial venues.

Iranian officials have historically cracked down on gothic and alternative subcultures, often labeling them “satanic.” Even prior to recent conflicts with Israel and the January protests, shops selling clothing with unconventional logos faced threats of closure. During the January protests, tens of thousands of people were reportedly killed by regime security forces.

Iranian-American actress and writer Nazanin Nour pushed back against Western narratives suggesting the festivities indicate a lenient regime. She wrote online that the “people of Iran push boundaries at their own risk (which very much still exists because repression is codified into law); it’s not that the boundaries are being eased by the regime.”

Beni Sabti, an Iran expert at INSS, described the growth of Halloween in Iran this year as a form of cultural protest. He noted that costumes have become more daring, featuring masks and gothic themes rather than the simpler animal costumes seen in previous years. Sabti said, “Listening to music, playing music in the streets, going without hijab, all these clips that you see, it’s kind of a protest. They don’t even know if they want to be in a huge protest. So everyone protests individually.”

The celebrations continue to draw participants despite the risks, with online videos showing widespread participation in defiance of the Islamic Republic’s restrictions.