Social Deputy of Kermanshah Police announced that they have warned 800 stores for selling food during Ramadan fast and closed down 87 others in the first half of Ramadan for “ignoring police warnings,” the state-run Mehr news agency reported on May 22, 2019.
Mohammad Reza Amouie said that during this period, they had taken written commitments from 1,731 people against openly eating in public. On the other hand, they have detained 412 people, for 170 of whom they filed cases. In addition, 49 cars have been impounded and sent to the parking lot.
Amouie announced that police have warned 569 drivers who were eating and drinking in public and the vehicles of 49 drivers who ignored the warnings were seized.
Meanwhile the state-run Tasnim news agency reported that five stored in the city of Kouhdasht in Lorestan Province were closed down for selling food during Ramadan fast.
Children, people with health problems, travelers and non-Muslims are excluded from the ban on eating or drinking in public during Ramadan.
Iran’s Islamic Penal Code does not specifically prohibit the consumption of food or water during Ramadan.
It does, however, discuss “sinful” acts in Article 638: “Anyone in public places and roads who openly commits a harām (sinful) act, in addition to the punishment provided for the act, shall be sentenced to two months’ imprisonment or up to 74 lashes; and if they commit an act that is not punishable but violates public prudency, they shall only be sentenced to ten days to two months’ imprisonment or up to 74 lashes.”
