Numerous actresses have been banned from working in Iran. The background is violations of Islamic dress rules, as the newspaper “Hamschahri” reported last night.
More than ten women are now banned from appearing in new films. Among those affected are Iranian film stars Tareneh Alidosti, Afsaneh Bajegan and Katajun Riahi.
Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance defended the work ban. Wearing a headscarf is a legal obligation, Mohammed-Mehdi Esmaili said today, according to a report by Tasnim news agency. The ministry also controls the film scene, grants licenses or bans.
During the wave of protests in Iran in the fall of 2022, several actresses found themselves in the crosshairs of the judiciary because they demonstrated solidarity with the movement. Alidosti and Riahi, for example, have already been arrested. Lawsuits are also underway against other filmmakers. The protests were triggered by the death of young Iranian Kurd Mahsa Amini. She died in police custody after being arrested for violating the headscarf requirement.