Iranian authorities arrested Alidosti, one of the country’s most famous actresses, for spreading lies about nationwide protests, state media said on Saturday, December 17. Photo Credit: Daniel Cole
After Toronto and Cannes, the Berlin International Film Festival is the latest film gala to condemn the arrest of Iranian actor Taraneh Alidosti and express solidarity with the people of Iran “fighting for their rights”.
Alidosti, 38, was taken into custody on Saturday, a week after she posted a post on Instagram expressing solidarity with Mohsin Shekhri, who has been jailed for crimes allegedly committed during recent protests. The first person was executed. He was arrested by the local authorities for spreading lies about the ongoing demonstrations in Iran.
The Berlin International Film Festival said in an Instagram post on Monday evening: “This weekend, Iranian authorities arrested Taraneh Alidosti, one of the country’s best-known actors, who recently publicly showed solidarity with the film. She has been a guest of the festival several times after she killed protester Mohsin Shekhri in an Instagram post.
Earlier, the actor – like many others – posted a photo of herself not wearing a hijab and holding a sign reading a slogan that has been used most often in the fight against the Iranian regime , ‘Women, Life, Freedom’.” The celebration further states that the star of Asghar Farhadi’s Oscar-winning film “The Salesman” used his influence to educate the world about the Iranian regime.
“Alidusti previously announced that she would not leave Iran and would fight alongside Iranian citizens for their freedom and rights.
The actor is one of many celebrities, artists and sports figures recently targeted and arrested who have used their platform to educate about and speak out against the Iranian regime. Fighting in solidarity for their rights,” it said.
According to reports published on the official Telegram channel of state media, the actor was arrested because he “did not provide any documents to support his claims”.
Alidusti’s Instagram account, which she used to openly express solidarity with the protesters, has been suspended.
Cameron Bailey, head of the Cannes Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Iranian-French actor Golshifteh Farahani and Iranian-born British actor Nazanin Boniadi have previously voiced their support for Alidosti.
Iran has been rocked by protests since the death of Mahsa Amini in September. Amini, 22, was detained by Iran’s morality police, who said she had not properly covered her hair with the hijab, the mandatory Islamic headscarf. She collapsed at a police station and died three days later, leading to protests in cities across the country and a crackdown by authorities.