Iran threatens to “handle” national celebrities who have expressed support for the protesters in the country. “We will take action against those who have fueled the fires of the protests,” Tehran province governor Mohsen Mansouri was quoted as saying by Iran’s ISNA news agency.
There is currently great unrest in Iran following the death of Kurdish Mahsa Amini (22). The young woman died on September 16 after being assaulted by the vice squad for “misuse” of her hijab. The drama has sparked a wave of protests across the country, with at least 41 people dead and hundreds of protesters arrested.
Re-watch: Mahsa Amini pays ‘wrong’ use of hijab with her life
“Even holy water cannot wash away shame”
Several Iranian celebrities, including actors and top athletes, have already expressed their support for the demonstrators in recent days and called on the authorities to comply with the people’s demands. Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, who has already won two Oscars, encouraged his followers on Sunday to “stand in solidarity with the demonstrators”. “They are fighting for simple yet fundamental rights that the state has been taking from them for years,” he said in a video message on Instagram.
During a football match against Senegal in Austria last Tuesday, the entire Iranian team was dressed in black as the national anthem was played. Several players had already denounced the violent behavior of the police towards the demonstrators on social media before the start of the match. Footballer Ali Karimi stressed that even “holy water cannot wash away this shame”.
The head of the judiciary, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, had harsh words for the celebrities. “Those who have become known through the system have rallied behind the enemy in these difficult times, rather than being with the people,” Ejei said. “Everyone of them should know that they have to repay the material and spiritual damage to the people and the country.”
In addition to Iranian celebrities, celebrities from all over the world have already drawn attention to the situation in Iran. For example, the American reality star Kim Kardashian, pop singer Ariana Grande and actress Eva Mendes stood up for the Iranian demonstrators.
Also read:
Celebrities show support for Iranian population: “An attack against one woman is an attack against us all”
British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe cuts hair in protest over Mahsa Amini’s death
See also: Another young woman shot dead during protests in Iran
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