Stars threatened for supporting protests in Iran

 middle east

Celebrities have been warned on Thursday for supporting the protests that have spread across the country over the death of Kurdish teenager Masa Amini in Iran's 'principle' police custody.

Officials say that 41 people, including members of the security forces, have been killed in the protests so far.  And more than 1,200 protestors have been arrested.  However, the number of dead as private is 76.  Most of them are protestors.

 On September 13, 22-year-old Masa Amini arrived in the capital, Tehran, from Saqez in Iran's northwestern Kurdistan province with other family members.  The country's 'policy police' arrested Masa for not wearing hijab 'decently'.  He died three days later while undergoing treatment in police custody.

People of Iran took to the streets and protested claiming that Masa had died under torture. In 2019, after the protests against the increase in the price of energy, there have been no such large protests in Iran.

 Several Iranian players, actors and filmmakers have expressed their support for the movement in the ongoing protests. At the same time, they urged the government to accept the demands of the people.

 Iran's news agency ISNA quoted Tehran's provincial governor, Mohsen Mansouri, as saying, "We will take action against stars who are fanning the flames of protests."

 Mehr, another Iranian news agency, reported on Wednesday that Mahmoud Shahriari, a former host of state television, was arrested on charges of "inciting riots and sympathizing with the enemy". News of the arrest of famous Iranian female musician Mona Borzui came on Wednesday evening. He was arrested after posting a poem in support of the protests.

Iran's two-time Oscar-winning director Asghar Farhadi expressed solidarity with the protesters last Sunday and called on the world to stand by them.  In a video message on Instagram, he said, "They (the protesters) are looking for simple yet fundamental rights, which the state has been denying them for years."

 Iran's players dressed in black during the national anthem on Tuesday against Senegal in Vienna.  Star forward Sardar Azmaon condemned the authorities in a post on Instagram.  He also accused the party of imposing a gag order.  He later removed his post.

Former player Ali Karimi has been taking to Instagram and Twitter to continue to express his support for the protests and his condemnation of Masa's death.  He said, 'Even holy water cannot wash away this stain.

 Iran's Judiciary Chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni criticized the stance of AJE stars.  He said, those who have become famous from within this state system, today they have joined the enemy instead of being with the people in the difficult times of the state.  All of them should know that they will have to pay the price for the worldly and spiritual damage caused to the people and the country.

 Iran's President Ibrahim Raisi told a state television yesterday that any disorder in the country will not be tolerated.