Iranian Sports Club Forced To Close After Video Of Mixed Yoga Class Goes Viral

The video from the event shows several people of both sexes doing yoga at the Iran Mall Sports Complex in Tehran.

A popular sports club in Iran has been forced to close after a video of men and women exercising together went viral, angering Iranian authorities.

The video from the event, which was filmed on July 16, shows several people of both sexes doing yoga at the Iran Mall Sports Complex in the capital city of Tehran.

Nader Moradi, a senior Iranian security police officer, called such a mixed-sex event "a violation of norms," adding that the two alleged organizers had been arrested.

Iran Mall is a sprawling business center in Tehran, including shops, a movie theater, and an amusement park, as well as a sports complex and hotel.

News of the sports club's closure comes amid recent reports that authorities in Iran are increasingly cracking down on women deemed to be in violation of wearing the hijab, which is mandatory in public in Iran.

In recent weeks, women judged not to be in compliance have been barred from government offices, banks, and public transportation.

The notorious Guidance Patrols, or morality police, have become increasingly active and violent. Videos have emerged on social media appearing to show officers detaining women, forcing them into vans, and whisking them away.

The hijab became compulsory in public for Iranian women and girls over the age of 9 after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Many Iranian women have flouted the rule over the years and pushed the boundaries of what officials say is acceptable clothing.

With writing and reporting by Ardeshir Tayebi