Continued Reactions from Artists to Employment Bans on Several Actors Opposing Mandatory Hijab

After Iranian government officials banned several female artists from acting in new works due to their choice of hijab, some of them reacted on social media to this prohibition. Panteha Bahram, a renowned actress, deemed this punitive action insignificant in an Instagram post, recalling the imprisonment, killings, and injuries of protesters during last year's protests. In her message, she wrote: 'Elaha, Niloufar, Tomaj, Fatemeh, and... are in prison, and the beautiful girls and boys who lost their eyes, who lost their lives. Being banned from work is not even my last concern. That's it.' Ronak Younesi, another actress, welcomed the decision of the Islamic Republic officials, writing: 'What a blessing.' Shabnam Farshadjou and Chokameh Chamanmah also reacted to their employment bans by resharing a note about the historical role of artists, stating that while cinema may forget their roles, their historical significance will remain. Previously, Katayoun Riahi and Hengameh Ghaziani, artists supporting the protesters who were also detained for a while, mentioned their withdrawal from contemporary Iranian cinema as stemming from their 'honor' and 'self-esteem.' Katayoun Riahi, who removed her hijab last year in support of the protesters and 'in mourning for the women of Iran,' wrote in an Instagram note to the Islamic Republic officials: 'My honor does not allow me to work in today's cinema... Who are you?' Hengameh Ghaziani also described her decision to retire from acting, announced in July of this year, as a significant aspect of her artistic character in preserving her self-esteem and willpower. She emphasized her decision to withdraw from acting, made during her detention in solitary confinement on November 20, 2022, writing: 'On July 9, 2023, I wrote on Instagram goodbye to acting; why do you feel that you have banned me from working? For years, this has been a significant aspect of my artistic character in preserving my self-esteem and willpower. That's it.' Previously, Donya Madani also stated on X (formerly Twitter) that not being 'under government oversight' was a source of 'pride and dignity' for her. Reactions to this action by Iranian cinema officials are not limited to female artists; several male figures in cinema and theater have also criticized this punitive measure. Reza Kianian, an actor, described most of the banned artists as stars in the sky of Iranian art and wrote that 'it takes years for another star of this magnitude to rise.' He called artists the national assets of the country and deemed the government's approach as destructive to these assets. This well-known actor questioned whether 'asset destruction is the right thing for our country? Is it correct to draw a sword and cut off the thread of dialogue instead of engaging with these artists?' He addressed Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the head of the judiciary of the Islamic Republic, asking, 'I ask Mr. Ejei. Has the judiciary issued such a ruling? Because working is a natural right of everyone.' Mohammad Rezaei Rad, a playwright and theater director, also reacted to this government order on his Instagram account, writing: 'I am ashamed to look at this list that has no men in it. Until my colleagues return, I will proudly stand with them.' Recently, Habib Ilbeigi, the deputy of supervision and evaluation of the Cinema Organization, announced the employment ban on female actors opposing the mandatory hijab, stating that these actors will no longer act in 'any new film.' Following this, Mohammad Mahdi Esmaeili, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, also referred to the mandatory hijab as law, stating: 'It is not possible to work for those who do not implement the law.' The website 'Cinema Daily,' an online cinema and television media outlet, announced the names of the banned actors as 'Baran Kowsari, Vishka Asayesh, Taraneh Alidoosti, Katayoun Riahi, Panteha Bahram, Hengameh Ghaziani, Pegah Ahangarani, Maryam Bobani, Golab Adineh, Fatemeh Motamed-Arya, Shaghayegh Dehghan, and Afsaneh Bayegan.' Reactions to the employment bans on several actors opposing the mandatory hijab continue, with the Minister of Culture responding that hijab is 'law' and will be enforced. Pegah Ahangarani will participate in the competitive section of the International IDFA Festival with 'My Father.' The government's pressure on artists continues; Leila Naqdi-Pari has been arrested and transferred to an unknown location.