Iran’s State Security Force launched a major crackdown on February 27, 2018, arresting 241 individuals in Tehran alone, under the pretext of selling firecrackers before the upcoming Iranian calendar new year. 63 of those arrested were under the age of 18.
98 traditional coffee shops and body building clubs were also closed down by the authorities.
The state-run Mizan news agency cited Tehran Police Chief Hossein Rahimi as saying, “The State Security forces detained more than 241 thugs and hoodlums in Tehran’s Emam Hossein square. 98 traditional coffee shops and body building clubs have been sealed.”