Iran Bans Over A Dozen Actresses For Defying Hijab

Iran has officially released a list of actresses who are now prohibited from working in the film industry due to refusal to wear the mandatory hijab.

The announcement follows months of uncertainty and conflicting statements from authorities associated with the culture ministry.

The director of the Supervision Department, Habib Ilbeigi, made the formal declaration on Tuesday, announcing that actresses who have defied hijab standards would no longer be allowed to participate in new film projects.

"Due to the constraints they confront, these actresses will no longer be able to pursue their careers in cinema. Nevertheless, their previous works will be gradually released to safeguard the interests of film producers, given the substantial investments made in these projects. However, they will be barred from participating in any forthcoming film productions," he said.

The list of affected actresses includes several well-known figures in the Iranian film industry, such as Baran Kosari, Vishka Asayesh, Taraneh Alidousti, Katayoun Riahi, Panteha Bahram, Hengameh Ghaziani, Pegah Ahangarani, and more.

In the wake of protests that erupted following the death of Mahsa Amini in custody last year, several female actresses have shown solidarity by sharing images of themselves without the obligatory hijab. Their acts of defiance have caused tensions with the Islamic Republic's state broadcaster, leading to the removal of them from TV sitcoms and movies in which they had previously appeared, or the discontinuation of the shows altogether.

Celebrities from the world of culture and entertainment as well as athletes, have come under huge pressure from the government since the uprising began last year, with punishments including pay cuts, bank account freezes and work bans. Some have even fled to exile after public displays of support for the Women, Life, Freedom movement on the world stage.