City Theater Director and 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' Director Released

Saeed Asadi, the director of the City Theater, and Maryam Kazemi, the director of the play 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' who were arrested on Sunday, were released today. Shahram Karami, the director of the Performing Arts Office, confirmed this news in an interview with ISNA news agency. The performance of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' was halted on Sunday, and both Kazemi and Asadi were detained. The reason for the suspension of the play was reported to be the circulation of an unofficial teaser on social media that featured women dancing. Previously, the Performing Arts Office of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance had apologized for the detention of the two individuals by the prosecutor's office and announced that they would be released the next day. The announcement emphasized that 'the preservation of the dignity of artists and the protection of the rights of artists, especially those in the theater, has always been a priority for the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.' The Performing Arts Office announced that the Minister of Culture was also following the situation of these two artists 'in silence and away from the noise' and that 'the administrative process and legal steps for their release' would reach a conclusion. On Tuesday, Shahram Karami also reported that a bail of 300 million tomans had been set for each of the two artists. The arrest of these two artists has sparked protests. Sajjad Afsharian, a playwright and theater director, announced via a message that he and the cast of the play 'Rainless Days' would refrain from performing on Tuesday in protest against the detention of the City Theater director and the director of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.' Tayebeh Siawashi, a representative from Tehran in the parliament, described the 'police and judicial actions' against artists as 'poor taste.' She added, 'It is strange that a teaser that was not part of the play is circulated in this way on social media.' Previously, some plays, including 'Shakh-e Nabat' and 'Hot Egg Tango,' had also been halted by the prosecutor's order. In 2010, the director and other members of the 'Hedda Gabler' theater production were summoned to the prosecutor's office.