CAIRO (AA) – Iranian authorities have arrested one of the country’s most famous actresses, accusing them of spreading lies about the nationwide protests engulfing the country.
Taraneh Alidoosti, star of the Oscar-winning movie “The Salesman,” was detained a week after she posted an Instagram post expressing solidarity with the first person recently executed for alleged crimes during nationwide protests, IRNA reported.
IRNA also said several Iranian celebrities were “summoned by the judiciary for posting provocative content”. He didn’t say how many they were or give more details.
According to the news broadcast on the official Telegram channel of the state media, Alidoosti was arrested for “not presenting any documents in line with his allegations”.
The 38-year-old actress shared, “His name was Mohsen Shekari. Any international organization that watches this bloodshed and does not take action is a disgrace to humanity.”
Shekari was executed in December. 9 After being accused by an Iranian court of blocking a street in Tehran and attacking one of the country’s security forces with a machete.
Last week, Iran executed a second prisoner, Majidreza Rahnavard, in connection with the protests. Rahnavard’s body was left hanging from a construction crane as a dire warning to the others. Iranian officials claimed that Rahnavard stabbed two members of his paramilitary force.
The execution of both suspects less than a month after their charges underscores how quickly Iran is now enforcing death sentences for crimes allegedly related to the demonstrations. Activists say at least a dozen people have been sentenced to death behind closed doors.
Alidoosti has made at least three posts on his Instagram account expressing solidarity with the protesters since the demonstrations began in September. His account, which has close to 8 million followers, has been suspended.
Iran has been rocked by protests since September. 16 deaths of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died after being detained by the moral police. The protests have since become one of the most serious challenges to the Iranian theocracy established by the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Alidoosti has previously criticized the Iranian government and police force.
In June 2020, she was sentenced to a suspended five-month prison sentence for criticizing police on Twitter for attacking a woman who took off a hijab in 2018.
Other films in which Alidoosti has acted include “The Beautiful City” and “About Elly”.
Two other famous Iranian actresses, Hengameh Ghaziani and Katayoun Riahi, were arrested by the authorities for expressing solidarity with the protesters on social media. Both were released.
According to Human Rights Activists in Iran, who have watched the protests since they began, at least 495 people have been killed in the demonstrations amid tough security measures. More than 18,200 people were detained by the authorities.
