Officials in the Iranian island of Qeshm in the Persian Gulf say 15 young men and women were arrested in a “mixed-gender night party” at a beach resort.

Mohammad Salari, commander of Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) in Qeshm has said that “In a joint operation between intelligence forces, police and Baseej militia” the party goers were detained.

Mixing of genders in parties and public gatherings is banned in Iran according to the Islamic laws in place in the country. Only within families men and women can hold a party together in the same room. In large wedding parties or other gathering, the genders should be in separate spaces.

But the restriction is often ignored, sometimes with bribing local police to look the other way. In the last two years there have been many instances of surprise raids, especially when young people held parties where they claimed alcohol was served.

Last summer, Qeshm officials also announced a raid and the arrest of 33 young men and women in a “mixed party”. Also, in Western Hamadan Province the IRGC in September announced arrests of women that were holding female parties to encourage “Western lifestyles”.