"May Be Her Last Post"... Iranian Actress Who Posted Hijab Refusal Video Arrested

Famous Actress Gaji Ani Accused of Inciting and Supporting Protests
Iranian Football Team Coach and Actor Also Arrested for Posting Protest-Related Content

Taraneh Alidoosti expressed solidarity with the anti-government protests through her Instagram last month. Photo by Reuters

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] The anti-government protests in Iran, sparked by the suspicious death of a woman in her 20s who was dragged away by police for not wearing a hijab, have continued for three months. Amid this, a famous Iranian actress was arrested after publicly refusing to wear a hijab in a video and joining the protests.

On the 20th (local time), AFP cited Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reporting that actress Hengameh Ghaziani (52) was recently arrested on charges of inciting and supporting the protests.

On the 19th, Ghaziani posted on her Instagram, "This might be my last post," adding, "Whatever happens to me from now on, I will stand with the Iranian people until my last breath." The video accompanying the post showed her in the middle of a Tehran street, looking at the camera without wearing a hijab, then turning around to tie her hair. Last week, Ghaziani also posted a message condemning the Iranian government as "child murderers," accusing them of causing the deaths of over 50 children.

According to the Iranian judiciary website, eight people including Ghaziani were arrested for posting protest-related content on social media. The list also includes Iran's national football team coach Yahya Golmohammadi, who criticized the team for not showing solidarity with the anti-government protests. Other famous Iranian actors such as Mitra Hajjar and Baran Kosari were also detained.

Last month, another well-known actress, Taraneh Alidoosti, gained attention for joining the protests. She posted a photo on her Instagram holding a paper with the phrase "Women, Life, Freedom," showing her hair uncovered after removing her hijab. This phrase honors Mahsa Amini (22), a Kurdish woman who died under suspicious circumstances after being arrested in September for improperly wearing her hijab.

Alidoosti stated, "I inherited this courage from the women of my land who have lived day by day with resistance and equality, dreaming of freedom," and expressed her determination, saying, "No matter what happens, I will stay in Iran."

The anti-government protests in Iran have continued for three months. According to the human rights organization Iran Human Rights (IHR), about 15,000 people have been arrested and over 300 have died during the hijab protests. Iranian authorities deny these figures.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.