Tehran: Celebrities and human rights activists on Sunday called for the release of the prominent Iranian actress, Taraneh Alidoosti, arrested in connection with the protest movement that the country has been witnessing for three months.
38-year-old Alidoosti was arrested on Saturday for supporting the protests and denouncing the execution of demonstrators.
Aldoosti’s Instagram account, which has more than 8 million followers, was suspended on Sunday.
The Iranian actress, Golshifteh Farahani, wrote on Instagram, “Iran’s brave actress has been arrested.”
“I took this picture in July 2008, just before I left Iran for good. Is the last time I saw her,” she added, under a photo of her with Alidoosti, which she attached to the hashtag # FreeTaranehAlidoosti.
Cameron Bailey, director of the Toronto Film Festival in Canada, wrote, “Taraneh Alidoosti is one of Iran’s most talented and well-known actresses. I hope she will be released soon and continue to embody the power of Iranian cinema.”
Referring to the news of her arrest, Iranian human rights lawyer Azadeh Shahshahani called for the release of all political prisoners.
The British actress of Iranian origin, Nazanin Boniadi, also sympathized with her.
The Festival Cannes has condemned the arrest of Iranian actress Taraneh Alidoosti.
Some well-known Iranian cinematographers, and artists on Sunday protested in front of the Evin Prison for Taraneh Ali doosti’s arbitrary arrest.
Iran protests continue:
The Islamic Republic is facing one of the largest and most unprecedented manifestations of dissent following the death of a 22-year-old Iranian-Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini, who was detained by the morality police for allegedly not wearing a headscarf properly.
Her death sparked unprecedented protests in Iran months ago, led by university and school students, as well as women and girls in various provinces.
Meanwhile, the security forces violently confronted the protesters, killing hundreds of them. The Human Rights Activists News Agency “Hrana” announced that 502 protesters were killed in the unrest, including 69 children.
At least 18,452 people, including 652 students, were arrested in those protests that took place in 161 cities and towns and 144 universities.
