TEHRAN: Two well-known actors in Iran have been detained after they publicly showed their support for the protest movement and took off their headscarves.
According to the state-run IRNA news agency, Hengameh Ghaziani and Katayoun Riahi were both taken into custody after being questioned by prosecutors about their “provocative” social media posts and media activities.
The death in custody 22 years old woman Masha Amini by morality police in Tehran has set off more than two months of demonstrations mostly led by women and youngsters who have challenged the Iran’s clerical leadership in an open defiance.
Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish origin Irani gir, died in police custody after she was arrested by the vigilante police for not wearing the headscarfe.
Iranian authorities refer the demonstrations as a western-hatched conspiracy and the handiwork of adversaries against the Islamic state. According to IRNA, Ghaziani, a vocal opponent of the crackdown on protesters, was detained for encouraging and supporting the “riots” as well as for interacting with the media.
The 52-year-old film star posted a video on her Instagram handle taking off the headscarf after indicating that she had been called by the court. She wrote on Instagram: “Maybe this will be my last post.” From this point forward, whatever happens, know that, as always, I will stand by the Iranian people until the last breath.”
The video, which appears to have been picturized on a shopping street, shows Ghaziani standing bareheaded in front of the camera without saying anything, before turning around and tying her hair into a ponytail. She accused the Iranian government of “murdering” more than 50 children in a post last week.
Voice of oppressed people
Riahi was later arrested by police in the same investigation, according to IRNA. The 60-year-old actress, who has appeared in a number of award-winning films and is also known for her charitable work, gave an interview to London-based Iran International TV, a regime-hating outlet, in September without wearing a hijab.
She had argued against the compulsory hijab and supported the protests that have erupted across Iran in the wake of Mahsa Amini’s death.
Ghaziani was one of eight people who were called by prosecutors over “provocative” content posted on social media, according to the judiciary’s Mizan Online news site. Among them was Yahya Golmohammadi, the head coach of Tehran’s Persepolis FC, who had harshly criticised Iranian national team players for failing to “bring the voice of oppressed to the ears of the authorities.”
The remark was made after the national football team met with President Ebrahim Raisi last week to discuss their participation in the World Cup, which got underway in Qatar on Sunday. Mizan reported that other notable actors, such as Mitra Hajjar and Baran Kosari, had also been called.
One of the most well-known actors from Iran still living there, Taraneh Alidoosti, shared a photo of herself on social media earlier this month without the required headscarf.
Alidoosti vowed to stay in her country at “any cost,” saying that she intended to give up her job in order to help the families of those who were killed or detained during the protest crackdown. Before the protest movement sparked by Amini’s death began, Iranian cinema figures were already facing pressure. Award-winning filmmakers Mohammad Rasoulof and Jafar Panahi are still being held in custody after being detained earlier this year.
