Tehran, Iran, Nov. ۱۷ – Agents of Iran’s morality police flogged a young man outside the Open University in the southern town of Behbahan, a student from the university reported in an email to Iran Focus.

The man was flogged in public outside the university’s main entrance on Wednesday at ۱۱ am. His punishment last for about half an hour, according to the student.

Morality police accused him of verbally harassing female students off campus.

Thousands of young people are flogged in Iran each year on trivial charges that include drinking alcohol, attending mixed-sex parties, and sexual misconduct. Iran’s Judiciary views flogging as the appropriate punishment for combating moral crimes, particularly among the youth. Islamic judges insist on carrying out the punishment in town squares, as “a lesson for all to see.”