Prominent Iranian athletes have also expressed support for the protests. Iran’s situation is not good, says the captain of Iran’s World Cup soccer team.
Two well-known actors have been arrested in Iran, accused of supporting anti-regime protests.
Hengameh Ghaziani and Katayoun Riahi had appeared in public without a headscarf, which is considered an anti-regime gesture in Iran.
According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, the actors were arrested on Sunday by order of the prosecutor’s office for “provocative” social media posts.
On Saturday, Hengameh Ghaziani posted a video on Instagram in which she takes off her hijab and ties her hair back.
– This may be my last post, he wrote.
– Whatever happens, know that I will stand by the Iranian people until my last breath.
Last week, Ghaziani accused the Iranian regime of murdering more than 50 children. According to the British newspaper The Guardian (you will switch to another service) the actor is suspected of inciting “riots” and communicating with the opposition media.
According to Iranian media, Katayoun Riahi was arrested as part of the same investigation. In September, Riahi gave an interview to Iranian media operating in Britain. In the interview, she appeared without a scarf.
The actress has also shown support for the Iranian protests and opposed the headscarf requirement.
Activists: About 400 people died in the protests
The leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran has been challenged in more than two months of protests. They started in September, when a 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini died under unclear circumstances after being arrested by the chastity police.
Since then, women’s rights supporters and people generally dissatisfied with the Iranian regime have taken to the streets in different parts of the country. Women have moved in public without a scarf and thus defied the dress code.
According to human rights activists, around 400 people have died when Iranian security forces have intervened in the protests with forceful means. Almost 17,000 people have been arrested.
According to the British Broadcasting Company BBC (you will switch to another service) at least five people have been sentenced to death because of the protests. Human rights organization According to Amnesty International (you will go to another service) at least 21 people have been charged with crimes that could carry the death penalty.
Iran’s leadership says the protests are riots orchestrated by Iran’s external enemies.
The captain of the World Cup team also took a stand
In addition to the award-winning actors, many other well-known Iranians have also shown their support for the protesters.
On Sunday, the captain of the Iranian football team playing in the World Cup in Qatar took a stand Ehsan Hajsafi.
– The situation in our country is not good and people are not satisfied, Hajsafi said.
According to Hajsaf, Iranian players want to act as the voice of Iranians. Other national team players have not commented on the situation in their home country so far.
Head of Iran Boxing Federation Hossein Soori announced on Saturday that he will not return to his home country from Spain, where he is currently in the tournament.
– I can no longer serve my beloved country in a system that so easily sheds people’s blood, Soori said in a video message.
Soori stated the violent suppression of the demonstrations as the reason.
Coach of the famous Iranian football club Persepolis FC Yahya Golmohammad is one of eight public figures and politicians who have been questioned about comments related to the demonstration, Iranian media reported over the weekend.
Iran accelerates actions against the Kurds
Iranian human rights activists said over the weekend that the Iranian regime has stepped up its efforts to suppress protests in Iran’s Kurdish region.
According to activists, soldiers of the security forces have been sent to the city of Mahabad. Videos published on Some show a convoy of military vehicles and heavy weaponry, and the sounds of gunfire can be heard.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says it has strengthened forces in the Kurdish region against “separatist terrorist groups,” according to state media.
The demonstrations that started in September began in Kurdish areas of Iran, including Mahsa Amin’s hometown of Saqqez. The Iranian regime has accused Kurdish groups of fomenting unrest.
Late on Sunday, Iran struck Kurdish opposition groups on the Iraqi side, Kurdish groups and local authorities say. According to the groups, this is already the second attack within a week.
According to the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran, Iran used missiles and suicide drones in the attacks. There is no information on possible deaths.
At 9:58, the BBC reference in the text was corrected to The Guardian reference.
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