In Iran that is, last month the Islamic Government jailed young men and women who were just out to enjoy themselves in a water fight and not even demonstrating against the government after protests were violently put down last time. So don't even think about bringing an airsoft gun to that country. Talk about being kill joys.

Organized through social media, young people have been looking for creative ways to use their pent up energies to have fun without getting the ire of the government. A water fight would surely look harmless and fun. But then, when around 800 persons participated, many were arrested due to disrupting "public order and security." And when religious extremists get into the act, the organizers were accused of trying to distance the youth from Islamic Principles. All this brouhaha just for water guns and some fun that would not even hurt the beard of a mullah.

The deeper meaning of this insecurity by the Iranian government is that such big gatherings of people could lead to anti-establishment protests. The Iranian government has been condemned by the whole world when they put violently cracked down the protesters of the "Green Revolution" last year. The protests were spearheaded by young people who protested against election rigging and demanded for more openness and democracy in their country.

As usual, the foreign bogeyman gets brought into the equation. "This is not simply a game with water. This act is being guided from abroad," was said by the spokesman of Iranian Judiciary according to the Huffington post. Yeah, right.

If you want to show solidarity to these Iranian water soldiers, you can go their Facebook page to help give some "guidance from abroad". Too bad it's in Farsi/Persian. But you might want to try and voice out your support. Who doesn't like to have some fun? All of us, one way or another had been in water fights in our lives and we all agree it's fun.

Here's a news report in case you want to learn more:

BUT WAIT! It could happen in the UK too according to this report from the Guardian "Essex police charge man over water fight planned on BlackBerry Messenger."

Oh man!