A former hijab watchdog official is currently in detention and could be facing a death sentence for homosexuality after a video of him engaging in sexual activity with another man surfaced.
Reza Seqati, who used to hold a high-ranking position in the culture ministry in Gilan province, is currently being held in custody, as reported by Mizan News Agency, which is affiliated with the Iranian judiciary.
The criminal court in Tehran issued the detention order after thoroughly investigating the case.
Seqati was dismissed from his official post in July after the video of him engaging in sexual activity with an unidentified man came to light, which could potentially lead to the death penalty according to Iranian law. Mizan confirmed Seqati’s involvement in the “indecent film in the Gilan case.”
In October, senior Iranian lawmaker Hassan Norouzi called for Seqati to face the death penalty, stating, “If the allegations against Reza Seqati are substantiated, there is an unequivocal necessity for imposing stringent consequences. He must face the full force of the law and be pushed off the mountain and be killed to teach a lesson to others.”
Seqati, who is reported to be married with three daughters, was known for being a strong advocate of compulsory hijab regulations in Gilan. He previously announced the opening of a hijab hypermarket in the province and initiated efforts to set up a hijab exhibition aligning with “Iranian-Islamic culture.”
There were reports last month suggesting that Seqati was assuming a new position, which the ministry promptly denied.
Some speculate that Seqati’s arrest, which came several months after the incident, is a response to public criticism regarding the lack of arrests in the Debsh tea corruption case, allegedly involving the embezzlement of funds from the Debsh Tea Company, with implications for several high-ranking officials.