Officials from the Iranian government have warned that they will take legal action against those responsible “celebrities”They publicly support anti-government protests that were sparked after Mahsa Amini, 22 years old, was killed while in police custody.
These demonstrations have garnered an unprecedented level of public support from a number of prominent figures in Iran’s cultural, media and sporting spheres, who previously have not openly commented on the political situation in their country.
Mohsen Mohsen, the governor of Tehran province, stated that the authorities would be handling the matter. “celebrities who fanned the flames of riots and with those who sign [lucrative] contracts with radio and television, but in a time of riots take a stand against security and order.”
“Of course, we may not deal with some cases immediately due to material reasons, but without a doubt we will deal with them after a few days and at the right time,”According to state news agency IRNA, he said it.
Asghar Farhadi (Oscar-winning Iranian director) posted a video on Instagram asking people to join forces in solidarity with protestors over the weekend.
This was a strange move for the director who, although he has been freely moving in and out Iran up to now, is attending the Zurich Film Festival as president.
Another group of Iranian cinema professionals also wrote an open letter, decrying the actions and supporting the protests.
Ali Abbasi and other filmmakers were among the signatories.Holy SpiderShirin Neshat (Land of Dreams) and Bahman Ghobadi (The Four Walls) and Holy SpiderZar Amir Elbrahimi was named Cannes’ best actress.
In Iran, Fatameh Motamed-Ayra, an award-winning actress, bravely took off her hijab for the high-profile funeral ceremony of Amin Tarokh. He died from heart failure.
#IranProtests2022: Fatemeh Motamed Arya, a well-known actress, makes a speech at the funeral of Amin Tarokh, a fellow actor. #فاطمه_معتمدآریا #مهسا_امینی #Mahsa_Amini pic.twitter.com/911wAe3bFe
— sebastian usher (@sebusher) September 28, 2022
Tehran province governor Mansouri’s warning echoes a veiled threat from Iranian Culture Minister Abbas Salehi earlier this week. He warned that actresses should not remove their hijabs in public and that they will be unable to continue their profession.
Mansouri spoke at the fringes of a ceremony to commemorate a religious shrine in Safadasht (about 30 miles west from Tehran).
Referring to the demonstrations “riots”Mansouri claimed that the unrest was contained within the last 24 hours. Mansouri blamed external influences for inflaming the unrest. “riots”He said that authorities are now cracking down on instigators.
The Iranian authorities have shut down the internet as they move to rein in the protests so it is difficult to verify whether Mansouri’s claims that demonstrations have been brought to an end are true.
Amini died on September 16 after being taken into police custody for not wearing her hijab in accordance with Iran’s religion-based law. While police say that Amini died from a heart attack and she was taken into custody, eyewitnesses to the incident and those who knew her were able to confirm that she had been severely beaten.
News of her death was quickly spread and spontaneous protests started to occur, often led at the time by women who proudly took off their hijabs.
Human rights organizations report that at most 76 protestors have been shot to death by security forces.
A number of local journalists, who had been reporting on the situation, have also been rounded up and detained, including Niloufar Hamedi, who first reported Amini’s injuries.
Protests are occurring amid an oppressive government led by President Ebrahim Raisi, which tries to control growing discontent.
This anger is fueled by a variety of issues such as the cost-of living crisis, the annoyance at government mismanagement and the fatigue from the oppressive, religion-based rule, especially among younger people.
This has led to the government clamping down on freedom expression by detaining a number directors with a history in political dissent including Mohammad Rasoulof, Mostafa Alahmad, and Jafar Panahi.