Renowned Iranian actresses charged for not wearing headscarves

Two famous Iranian actresses have been charged by authorities for not wearing their headscarves. 

Iranian state media on Tuesday stated that police in the capital charged Katayoun Riahi and Pantea Bahram with "the crime of removing their hijab in public and publishing its images in the virtual space".

The actresses could face fines or prison terms if found guilty. 

Iranian state media reported on Tuesday that Tehran police have referred Katayoun Riahi and Pantea Bahram to the judiciary, accused of “the crime of removing their hijab in public and publishing its images in the virtual space” pic.twitter.com/oiO2W4fain

— Faisal Ali Shah (@FaisalzUpdates) April 25, 2023

Last week, 53-year-old Bahram posed without a headscarf at a film screening. 

Riahi, 61, was one of the first Iranian actresses to post an image of herself online without a headscarf in support of nationwide protests that erupted in Iran in September. She was previously arrested in November and accused of “collusion against national security and propaganda against the establishment".

This came as Tehran intensifies its crackdown on people violating the country’s strict hijab laws following nationwide protests in the aftermath of the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died in police custody after being detaine for wearing her headscarf ‘improperly’. 

Several other high profile celebrities been arrested for removing their headscarves in support of anti-government protests.

Many Iranian women have abandoned the mandatory hijab, as images of women with their hair open in public places are being increasingly shared online. 

Iranian authorities have since taken to threatening shopkeepers and store owners if women take off the hijab in their establishments.

Authorities reportedly closed more than 150 businesses in 24 hours over the weekend for not respecting the obligation for women to wear headscarves under Iran's strict Islamic dress code.