Iranian authorities threatened on Thursday to retaliate against public figures who in recent days have supported the demonstrations triggered by the death of Masha Amini, a Kurdish woman detained by the morality police.
Iran has been shaken by a wave of protests that has claimed dozens of victims since the death of this 22-year-old woman on September 16, a few days after her arrest for violating the strict code on the use of women’s clothing. provided for in the laws of the Islamic Republic, in particular the use of the veil.
“We will go after the celebrities who blew up the embers” of the “riots,” the governor of Tehran province, Mohsen Mansouri, was quoted by the ISNA news agency as saying today.
Several Iranian athletes, as well as several actors and filmmakers, openly supported the protest movement and asked the authorities to listen to the demands of the population.
Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, a two-time Oscar winner, on Sunday urged people around the world to “stand in solidarity” with the protesters.
“I invite all artists, filmmakers, intellectuals, civil rights activists around the world (…) all those who believe in human dignity and freedom, to express their solidarity with the strong and brave women and men of They will go by video production, writing, or otherwise,” he said in a new video message on Instagram.
In turn, the former star of the national soccer team, Ali Karimi, posted several times on Instagram and Twitter messages of support for the demonstrations.
Previously, Iranian striker Sardar Azmoun, a player for Bayer Leverkusen, a German soccer club, considered that he could not remain silent in the face of the numerous deaths from the repression. “This cannot be erased from our conscience. What a shame,” he posted on social media.
Recently, Iranian justice official Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei has also attacked public figures who have spoken out.
“Those who became famous for supporting the system, on difficult days, sided with the enemy instead of being on the side of the people. Everyone must know that they must pay for the material and spiritual damage caused to the people and the country,” he said. .
The protest movement over the death of the young woman is the most significant in the country since 2019 and began with the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini.
According to the Iranian news agency Fars, “some 60” people have been killed since the start of the protests, while the Norway-based non-governmental organization (NGO) Iran Human Rights counts at least 76 dead.
Source: TSF
