Why Iranian police arrested footballers for attending a party

Iranian police arrested a few top-tier football players on Sunday (January 1) for attending a mixed-gender New Year's Eve party and for reportedly consuming alcohol.

Men and women allegedly mingled at the party, and alcohol was served in violation of an Islamic ban, Iranian media reported. The football players were released later.

What happened: Iranian news agency Tasnim reported that several active players and former members of an unidentified top Tehran football club were detained at the party east of the capital city of Tehran.

"Some of the players were in an abnormal state due to alcohol consumption," the agency reported.

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Iran's YJC news agency reported that the gathering was a birthday party, and added that all those detained had been released except one person, who is not a football player.

But why were they arrested? Mingling between sexes outside marriage and drinking alcohol is banned under Iran's Islamic laws. Iranian law only permits non-Muslims to consume alcohol for religious purposes. Dancing with the opposite gender is also forbidden in the Islamic nation.

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What will happen to the players? Iran's state-affiliated Fars news agency reported a prosecutor as saying that a case had been filed against those who had been detained, and details would be released later.

Protests in Iran: Iran has been rocked by huge protests since September 16. The protests against the regime started after the custodial death death of Mahsa Amini, 22, following her arrest by the Iran's morality police for an alleged breach of the strict dress code for women.

• Iranian officials say hundreds of people have been killed in the unrest, including members of the security forces, and thousands have been arrested.
• A number of current and former footballers as well as other athletes and prominent figures have been detained or questioned by the authorities after voicing support for the protests, reported AFP.

A revolution in Iran? The protests against the clerical establishment in the country over women's freedom have now grown into a broad movement. The agitations are now also challenging the theocracy that has ruled Iran since the 1979 revolution in the country.