Judicial Action Against Sahar Dolatshahi Due to 'Dancing' in a Home Series

The judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran announced judicial action against Sahar Dolatshahi, a cinema actress, due to 'dancing' or what this institution has referred to as 'actions contrary to Islamic norms' in a series on social media. The Mizan news agency, affiliated with the judiciary, announced on Tuesday, September 20, that judicial action has also been taken against the producer of this series and its broadcasting platform. Mizan did not provide further details on the dimensions and nature of this 'judicial action.' In the home series 'Dariush,' directed by Hadi Hejazifar and broadcast on the home viewing platform 'Filmnet,' Sahar Dolatshahi is seen performing movements similar to dancing in the seventh episode alongside Atash Taghipour, a veteran cinema and television actor. According to the laws of the Islamic Republic, the publication of visual products is subject to the approval of supervisory institutions, and it has not been common for an actor to face consequences due to the content of a licensed performance. The organization responsible for supervising and censoring home network works, SATRA, is an organization under the supervision of the state broadcasting organization, which was assigned this responsibility based on a resolution from the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council. Before this resolution, the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance was responsible for overseeing the works of this network. SATRA, the producer, and Filmnet have not commented on the news of judicial action against the creators and actor of the series 'Dariush.' Dancing has been prohibited in Iran since the 1979 revolution, and Shia clerics have referred to it in their fatwas as a 'forbidden act' and consider it a 'sensual act.' Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic recognizes the dances of Iranian ethnic groups on various occasions as 'rhythmic movements' and avoids using the term 'dance.'