Two prominent actresses arrested in Iran for not wearing hijabs as protests continue
The latest arrests in Iran are three well-known actresses — Payam Akhavan, Shima Aziri and Shaleh Aghdashloo — all who have been arrested recently by Iranian authorities as they continue to protest the country’s ban on women’s hijab. They were all arrested on suspicion of “separatism” for not wearing all three layers of clothing that cover religious tradition, though there is not any evidence that they have done this.
The protests have taken place in many other countries, including in Turkey and the United States, where there are protests in front of the White House in support of the women’s right. The situation continues to escalate since the Iranian government has announced that women’s rights groups will be punished. Activists have also been detained in several countries, including Morocco and Serbia, where they have been jailed in detention centers.
The latest arrests, however, come on the same day that two actresses from Iran’s national team, Alireza Jara’i and Golnaz Esfandiari, have been arrested on suspicion of not wearing hijab for showing their support for the right to have their religion respected in the country.
Many Iranians have been following the cases on social media and are outraged, calling the arrests a major injustice.
Activists have called for the immediate release of the women, but as of yet, the calls have not been heeded.
The situation continues to escalate since the Iranian government has announced that women’s rights groups will be punished in Iran, the BBC reported on Sunday.
One member of the Women’s Council, Golnaz Esfandiari, was arrested on suspicion of “terrorism,” according to the state-run news agency Fars. The activist was reportedly detained in Tehran on Sunday, but no reason was given for her arrest.
A total of nine women have been arrested since protests against the hijab ban started.
The protests have taken place in many of the country’s provinces, including Fars, Khuzestan and Hormozgan provinces.
A woman who has been arrested after protesting against the hijabs for not wearing them was given a sentence of six months in a detention center last week, according to the Tehran
