After Katayoun Riahi, Panteha Bahram Also Summoned to Court

Following Katayoun Riahi, Panteha Bahram has also been summoned to the "Cultural and Media Prosecutor's Office." Recently, at the screening of the series "Shir Skin," Panteha Bahram, a prominent Iranian actress, appeared without the mandatory hijab. According to the "Hrana" website, affiliated with human rights activists in Iran, the summons was issued on April 26, and she must appear within five days to defend against the charges at Branch 4 of the Cultural and Media Prosecutor's Office. Previously, Katayoun Riahi, another well-known Iranian actress who has appeared without a hijab at various events in recent months, reported being summoned to two different courts. Riahi published the two summonses in an Instagram post on Friday, one summoning her to Branch 1099 of the Criminal Court 2 of the "Tehran Judicial Complex" and the other to Branch 4 of the Cultural and Media Prosecutor's Office. One of these summonses cited the "reports, documents, and evidence provided" regarding her public appearance without a hijab as the reason for the summons. The Tehran Prosecutor stated last Wednesday that following the support of several artists for opponents of the mandatory hijab and their refusal to comply with government dress regulations, several cinema actors have been summoned, and failure to appear within the legal timeframe will result in their arrest. Ali Salehi described the charges against these actors as "actions and behaviors outside the norms and Islamic values." The Mizan news agency, affiliated with the judiciary, reported that in recent days, Katayoun Riahi, Panteha Bahram, Afsaneh Bayegan, Fatemeh Motamed-Arya, and Reza Kianian have been summoned. This judiciary official threatened some of the summoned figures who have not yet appeared before the judicial authorities with arrest. Reza Kianian, an actor, referred to the lack of a headscarf as a citizen's right in his speech at a ceremony honoring Attila Pessiani. Earlier, the Tehran police's information center announced the formation of a legal case against Katayoun Riahi and Panteha Bahram for "unveiling in public and sharing images on social media." Recently, women including Bayegan, Motamed-Arya, Bahram, Riahi, and Adineh appeared without the mandatory hijab at artistic events, which received significant support from Iranian users on social media. Just yesterday, images of another prominent Iranian actress, Baran Kowsari, appearing without a hijab at the funeral of Hesam Mahmoudi, an actor who passed away a few days ago, were published. Following a speech by Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, on April 4, in which he declared unveiling as "politically and religiously forbidden," the authorities of the Islamic Republic intensified their crackdown on opponents of the mandatory hijab. Numerous videos and images of women in various cities of Iran moving in public without the mandatory hijab indicate the failure of the Iranian government's actions in this regard. Kaveh Farnam, a film producer and member of the Independent Filmmakers Association of Iran, emphasized the need for artists to stand with the people and praised the "courage" of filmmakers who say no to mandatory dress. He stated, "People are resisting against this government, standing up against oppression, and engaging in various forms of civil disobedience. Artists are not separate from the people; filmmakers have a duty to be alongside the people. In the worst conditions, they do not need to be ahead of the people but must stand with them and support them." Two cinema actors were accused of "unveiling" for "disturbing public opinion." Reactions to Afsaneh Bayegan's appearance without a hijab at the Artists' House with lion and sun earrings continue. The crackdown on opponents of the mandatory hijab continues; a legal case has been formed against Katayoun Riahi and Panteha Bahram. Panteha Bahram's appearance without the mandatory hijab at an artistic event led to the closure of Lotus Cinema.