Iran arrests Taraneh Alidoosti, actress of Oscar-winning film “The Salesman”

Iranian actress Alidosti attends Ghana Film Festival in France (May 26, 2022)

State media said Saturday that Iranian authorities arrested Iran’s most famous actress on charges of spreading false information about protests across Iran.

Taraneh Alidoosti, the heroine of the Oscar-winning film “The Salesman,” was detained a week after posting on Instagram expressing support for the first man executed during protests in Iran, the Islamic Republic of Iran news agency reported.

Alidosti, 38, said in a post, “His name is Mohsen Shekari. The failure of every international organization that is concerned about this bloodshed to act is a disgrace to humanity.

The report also said that several other Iranian stars were also “summoned by the judiciary for publishing provocative content,” without providing further details.

Iranian state-run media reported that Alidosti was arrested because she did not provide “any documents consistent with her claims.”

Alidosti posted support for Iranian protesters in at least three instant Telegram posts, and her account with 8 million followers was subsequently blocked.

Alidosti has previously criticized the Iranian government and the Iranian police force. She criticized Iranian police for attacking a woman who had removed her headscarf in 2018 and was sentenced to five months of probation in June 2020.

Two other prominent Iranian actresses, Hengameh Ghaziani and Katayoun Riahi have also been arrested by authorities for expressing support for protesters on social media and have since been released.

Other films starring Alidosti include “The Beautiful City” and “About Elly.”

(This article is based on an Associated Press report.)