After the revolution and the establishment of Islamic regime, in July 1979 a crowd which witnessed the death sentence of three women accused of procuring assaulted the district, burned the brothels, persecuted women and spread terror. At this time the area sprawled over 13 ha and hosted 1500 women, 753 street sellers, 178 shops and two theaters.
The next year after Ayatollah Khomeini emerged as the Supreme Leader of Iran, the government demolished the red light district and flattened it with bulldozers, only leaving a barren area. Hooman Majd, author of The Ayatollah Begs to Differ, said that the Iranian government did this for Islamic reasons and to demonstrate the government’s authority.
