(Paris) The Cannes Film Festival “strongly condemns” the arrest and calls for the “immediate release” of Iranian actress and activist Taraneh Alidoosti, arrested on Saturday in Iran, after supporting the protest movement in her country.
“In solidarity with the peaceful fight she is waging for freedom and women’s rights”, the Cannes Film Festival sent her “all its support” on social networks on Monday.
Taraneh Alidoosti is the most famous personality arrested in connection with the protest movement agitating Iran for three months.
Celebrities and human rights defenders have been calling on Iran over the weekend to release the actress and activist.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights told AFP that it was “deeply concerned” by this arrest, stressing that “all those arrested for having demonstrated peacefully must be released immediately”.
The British pop group Pet Shop Boys, denouncing a “fascist government” in Iran, posted a photo of the actress on its social networks and several links to articles on this arrest.
“The brave actress from Iran has been arrested,” wrote her colleague Golshifteh Farahani, who began her career in Iran before fleeing, on Instagram.
Taraneh Alidoosti “is one of Iran’s most talented and recognized actresses,” wrote Cameron Bailey, director of the Toronto film festival in Canada. “I hope she will be released soon to continue representing the strength of Iranian cinema.”
Taraneh Alidoosti, 38, is known overseas 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.