Celebrities and human rights activists called on Iran on Sunday to release actress and activist Taraneh Alidoosti, the most famous personality arrested in connection with the protest movement that has rocked the country for three months.
Figure of Iranian cinema, Taraneh Alidoosti, 38, was arrested on Saturday for publications on social networks in support of the protests, denouncing in particular the execution of demonstrators or in which we see her removing her veil.
The protest in Iran was sparked by the September 16 death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd who died after being arrested in Tehran by vice police. Since then, hundreds of people have been killed, thousands arrested and two 23-year-old men have been hanged.
Several Iranian artists were also arrested. On Sunday, Amir Maghareh, the singer of the pop group Makanband, was “summoned as a defendant” and “left the prosecution after giving an explanation, receiving a warning and making a commitment”, announced Mizan Online, l Iranian justice agency.
Taraneh Alidoosti is known abroad for starring in award-winning films by director Asghar Farhadi, including The customerOscar for best foreign language film in 2017. She also starred in Saeed Roustayi’s film Leila and her brotherspresented this year at the Cannes Film Festival.
“Free Taraneh Alidoosti”
“The brave actress from Iran has been arrested,” wrote her colleague Golshifteh Farahani, who began her career in Iran before fleeing, on Instagram.
“This photo was taken in July 2008 just before I left Iran for good,” she added, under a photo of the two actresses, along with the hashtag “Free Taraneh Alidoosti.”
Somayeh Mirshamsi, assistant director for The customersaid the actress had called her father to tell him that she was being held in Evin prison in Tehran, which is notorious for the mistreatment of political detainees.
Taraneh Alidoosti has asked her father to send her medicine, and her family is “worried” for her health, Somayeh Mirshamsi wrote on Twitter.
Iranian film personalities gathered outside the prison, the Iranian reform daily Shargh reported, including actors from Leila and her brothers.
“Taraneh Alidoosti is one of Iran’s most talented and recognized actresses,” wrote Cameron Bailey, director of the Toronto Film Festival, Canada. “I hope she will be released soon to continue representing the strength of Iranian cinema. »
Iranian justice said on Saturday that “celebrities”, including Taraneh Alidoosti, had been arrested “following baseless comments on recent events and the publication of provocative material supporting street riots”.
” Shame “
“Women are being arrested and imprisoned in Iran for refusing to wear the compulsory hijab, including famous actresses like Taraneh Alidoosti. The power of women’s voices terrifies the leaders of the Islamic Republic,” said the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI).
The actress had notably denounced on December 8 the hanging of Mohsen Shekari. “Any international organization that watches this bloodbath without reacting is a disgrace to humanity,” she wrote on her Instagram page.
In November, she promised to stay in her country and “pay the price” it would take to defend her rights.
Any international organization that watches this bloodbath without reacting is a disgrace to humanity.
Several Iranian cinema personalities were worried or arrested by the authorities even before the current wave of protest, such as directors Mohammad Rasoulof and Jafar Panahi, who are still in detention.
In addition, Belgium on Sunday called on its nationals who would be in Iran to leave the country “as soon as possible”, because of “increased risks of arbitrary detention”, after the sentencing to 28 years in prison of a humanitarian , Olivier Vadecasteele.
Repression also affects the sporting world. Former Iranian nationality footballer Ashkan Dejagah has been banned from leaving Iran, the sports newspaper said on Sunday. Khabar Varzeshi.
This decision is linked to the player’s presence “in the demonstrations (against the Islamic Republic) organized in Germany”, according to the newspaper.