Iran Has Arrested One Of Its Most Famous Actresses For Criticizing Its Execution Of Mahsa Amini Protesters
Taraneh Alidoosti, one of Iran’s most famous actresses, has been detained for showing her support of the Mahsa Amini protests.
Taraneh Alidoosti, one of Iran’s most famous actresses, has been detained for showing her support of the Mahsa Amini protests.
Alidoosti – who appeared in the film “The Salesman”, which won the Oscar for Best International Film in 2016 – had shared a photo on Instagram in November of herself without a headscarf, holding a sign reading “Woman, Life, Freedom”.
She was arrested on Dec. 17 after she criticized authorities for executing Mohsen Shekari, the first known protester to be hanged.
“His name was Mohsen Shekari. Every international organization who is watching this bloodshed and not taking action, is a disgrace to humanity,” she wrote.
State media said Alidoosti was arrested due to a “lack of evidence for her claims.”
Shekari was the first known executions over the recent anti-government protests sparked by the death of 22-year-old Amini after she was detained by “morality” police for allegedly breaking the country’s mandatory hijab law.
The 23-year-old man was executed by hanging on Thursday Dec. 8 for “moharebeh” – or “enmity against God”.
He had been accused of blocking a main road in Tehran and wounding a member of a paramilitary force with a knife on Sep. 25.
Another man, Majidreza Rahnavard, was also executed on Thursday, according to the government.
Rahnavard had also been convicted of “enmity against God” after being accused of stabbing two members of the paramilitary force to death
The two are is among 11 protesters who have been sentenced to death so far.
More than 18,000 people have been arrested in the protests, which broke out three months ago, according to rights groups, with many also tried under “moharebeh” charges.
On Tuesday Dec. 13, 400 protesters were sentenced to prison for up to 10 years for participating in the demonstrations.
