(Tehran) Iranian actress Taraneh Alidoosti was released on bail on Wednesday after three weeks in detention for supporting protests in Iran, Iranian media reported.
Iran is rocked by protests sparked by the September 16 death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, who died after she was arrested by vice squad for violating the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code.
Iranian officials say hundreds of people have been killed in the unrest, including members of the security forces, and thousands more arrested.
Mme Alidoosti, 38, had been detained in Tehran since December 17 after posting several messages on social media displaying her support for the protest movement, including some where she removed her veil and condemned the execution of several protesters.
“My client was released on bail today,” her lawyer Zahra Minooee told the Isna news agency on Wednesday.
The actress was the most famous figure arrested in connection with the protests. Nearly 500 personalities and workers from the world of cinema, such as the French actress Marion Cotillard or the Spanish director Pedro Almodovar, had called in December in an open letter for his immediate release.
Mme Alidoosti is best known 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.