Iranian anti-regime figures are growing increasingly wary of promises, made during the recent presidential election by eventual winner Hassan Rouhani, that the post-election environment would see significant domestic reforms. Anti-regime activists had already begun blasting Rouhani for a wave of executions which have occurred since his election. Meanwhile Green movement figures have called attention to the ongoing imprisonment of political prisoners.

Skeptics have called particular attention to Rouhani’s own history as a revolutionary-era cleric who in the past has called for the mass incarceration and execution of political dissidents.

A Tuesday night raid at a birthday celebration in Iran, which resulted in the arrest of what regime officials described as “a network of homosexuals and Satanists,” is likely to deepen concerns that Rouhani is either unable or unwilling to implement reforms:

According to the announcement, which came via [the Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps’] official website, a number of foreign nationals, including Iraqis, were among those detained… The individuals had rented one of the city’s ceremonial halls for a birthday event, according to the website. The Revolutionary Guards added that they were dancing as the raid took place… According to an unnamed source quoted by The Guardian, at least 17 people who were wearing make-up, rainbow-colored bracelets or had tattoos were blindfolded and taken to an unknown location.

LGBT outlet Queerty covered the story and noted that the punishment for homosexuality – which still remains on the books in Iran – is severe:

In Iran, anyone suspected or confirmed of being gay, or being associated with homosexuality in any way, can be punished. For gay men charged with sodomy, the one playing the “passive role” (aka bottom) is put to death and the person playing the “active role” (aka top) is flogged 100 times. For lesbian women, the punishment is 100 lashes for all individuals involved, but it can lead to the death penalty if the act is repeated more than three times.

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