One of the most well-known actors in Iran recently shared a photo of herself on social media without the headscarf that is mandatory for women in the Islamic republic.
Following the death of Mahsa Amini, weeks of protests have shaken the nation, and Taraneh Alidoosti’s apparent act of defiance comes at this time.
The Kurdish Iranian woman, 22, who had been detained by Tehran’s morality police for allegedly breaking the country’s strictly enforced dress codes for women, died in the middle of September.
One of the most well-known actors still working in Iran, Alidoosti, posted a photo of herself with her head exposed on her official Instagram account. She has openly supported the protest movement.
She held a Kurdish-language slogan of the protest movement reading: “Jin. Jiyan. Azadi.” (Woman. Life. Freedom.).”
Alidoosti is a regular star in films by award-winning director Asghar Farhadi, including The Salesman, which took the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 2017.
The actor made a promise to stay in her country at “any price” a few days ago on Instagram. She added that she intended to stop acting and devote her time to helping the families of those killed or detained during the protest crackdown.
“I am the one who stays here, and I have no intention of leaving,” said the 38-year-old, denying having any foreign passport or residence.
“I will stay, I will halt working. I will stand by the families of prisoners and those killed. I will be their advocate,” she said.
“I will fight for my home. I will pay any price to stand up for my rights, and most importantly, I believe in what we are building together today,” she added.
Alidoosti has been a well-known figure in Iranian cinema since her teens. She also starred in the critically acclaimed film Leila’s Brothers, directed by Saeed Roustayi, and screened at the Cannes film festival this year.
She is known as a forthright defender of women’s rights and wider human rights in Iran.
Before the Mahsa Amini death-related protest movement began, Iranian cinema figures were already facing pressure.
Award-winning filmmakers Mohammad Rasoulof and Jafar Panahi are still being held in custody after being detained earlier this year.
Alidoosti declared that Iranians were “millions of captives” rather than citizens when violent protests erupted across the nation in November 2019.