Iranian actress Taraneh Alidoosti arrested for backing protesters

An Iranian actress who starred in the Oscar-winning film “The Salesman” was arrested Saturday for supporting protesters in the country.

Taraneh Alidoosti, 38, posted on Instagram in support of a man who was executed for his role in the demonstrations.

“His name was Mohsen Shekari,” she wrote. “Every international organization who is watching this bloodshed, and not taking action, is a disgrace to humanity.”

Shekari was executed on Dec. 9. Alidoosti was arrested one week after her post, according to Iranian state media.

The protests against the Iranian regime began in September after Mahsa Amini died in police custody. Amini, 22, had been arrested by Iran’s morality police for “improperly” wearing her hijab.

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Before the post that led to her arrest, Alidoosti had shared at least three posts expressing solidarity with protesters. Her account has since been suspended.

Iranian state media said Alidoosti was detained for posting without “documents in line with her claims.”

In recent weeks, the regime has cracked down on prominent figures who have supported the protesters. Soccer player Voria Ghafouri was detained for “insulting the national soccer team and propagandizing against the government.” He was later released.

According to Iranian state media, on Saturday several Iranian celebrities were “summoned by the judiciary body over publishing provocative content.” Alidoosti was reportedly not the only person detained.

Nearly 500 people have been killed by Iranian security forces during the months-long protests, according to human rights groups. However, only Shekari and another man were formally executed after short judicial cases.

Alidoosti has been outspoken politically for much of her career. She didn’t attend the Academy Awards in 2017, when “The Salesman” won best foreign language film, in protest of then-President Donald Trump’s Muslim ban. In 2018, she criticized Iranian police on Twitter and was eventually given a five-month suspended prison sentence.

With News Wire Services