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Iranian police on Saturday detained several actors after seizing 38 liters of homemade alcohol during a late-night gathering in Tehran, according to local media, as conflicting reports suggest the number of detainees may exceed 20.
The detention happened during a special operation carried out at a late-night gathering attended by artists, according to the conservative Fars News Agency.
The agency reported that a film actor's birthday celebration held Friday night had “turned into a drinking session,” noting that authorities did not disclose the names of those arrested and referred to them only by their initials.
The party was hosted at the home of one of the actors and was attended by both male and female artists.
Fars added that other prominent actors were also detained, noting that the condition of one of them deteriorated after consuming the homemade alcohol.
According to the agency, one actor was released after signing a pledge, while six others spent the previous night in custody before some were released on bail that same night. Other reports, however, indicate that the number of detainees exceeded 20.
In a related development, the news website Rooidad 24 reported that several Telegram channels claimed actor Ali Shadman was among those detained, along with more than 20 others, including Parsa Pirouzfar, Setareh Pesyani, Sahar Dolatshahi, Mehran Miri, and Ahmad Solgi.
According to available information, a judicial case has been opened for Ali Shadman and six others at the Guidance Court, with charges that include offending public decency, promoting immorality, consuming alcohol, and possessing alcoholic beverages.
Article 264 of Iran’s Islamic Penal Code states that “the consumption of intoxicants in any form, whether small or large in quantity, solid or liquid, intoxicating or not, is subject to the prescribed hadd punishment.” Article 265 sets this penalty at 80 lashes.
Hadd is an Islamic legal term referring to a fixed, mandatory punishment prescribed by Sharia for certain offenses.
Meanwhile, Article 702 stipulates that anyone who manufactures, purchases, trades, or possesses alcoholic beverages may face six months to one year in prison, 74 lashes, and a fine equal to five times the value of the alcohol consumed or traded.
Separately, hours after media reports claimed that Ali Sabouri, the host and producer of the YouTube program “Nesf Shab,” had been detained along with several members of his team under a judicial order, Sabouri denied his arrest.
He released a video apologizing for broadcasting “immoral scenes” on the show and pledged to remove them from upcoming episodes.
The judiciary-affiliated Mizan News Agency had earlier described the program’s content as violating ethical and social standards, announcing the arrest of seven staff members.
“Nesf Shab” is a talk show recorded before a live audience in a private studio and streamed on social platforms. Mizan accused the program of disseminating “immoral content” to boost viewership.
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