An actor has been arrested in Iran after criticizing the violent enforcement of the headscarf requirement. Mohammed Sadeghi was detained by the fire department at his residence in the capital Tehran, Tasnim news agency reported today.
Videos released on Twitter show police officers raiding the man’s home during a live recording of Sadeghi for social media. The actor previously released a video in which he criticized the state’s crackdown on women who don’t follow strict dress codes.
Today, Iranian authorities also announced the return of moral guardians, who disappeared after mass protests in major cities last year, to enforce the headscarf requirement. Patrols across the country are on foot and in cars to take action against violators. A bill also provides for tougher penalties for violating the dress code.
The trigger for mass protests in the fall of 2022 against the country’s political and religious leadership was the death of Iranian Kurd Mahsa Amini. The young woman died in police custody after being arrested for breaking Islamic dress codes.