Pezhman Bazghi Criticizes Judicial Sentences Against Female Actors Opposing Mandatory Hijab

Pezhman Bazghi, the head of the Iranian Actors Guild, criticized judicial sentences against several female actors and their deprivation of 'minimum civil rights.' Speaking on the sidelines of the public screening of the film 'The Case is Open,' directed by Kiumars Pourahmad, Bazghi listed deprivation of 'a telephone line,' 'having Instagram,' 'two years of work prohibition,' and 'two years of travel ban' as examples of 'minimum civil rights.' These remarks followed recent judicial sentences against several actors opposing mandatory hijab, including Azadeh Samadi, Afsaneh Bayegan, and Leila Bolukat. In separate rulings, the judiciary sentenced these three actors to punishments such as imprisonment, mandatory visits to mental health centers, prohibition from social media activities, and travel bans. These 'strange' and 'humiliating' rulings faced protests from filmmakers and four scientific associations of psychiatry and psychology. Bazghi also announced his efforts to 'soften' the sentences against the actors. The head of the Iranian Actors Guild described artists as 'the mirror of society' and considered 'unity and empathy' as the only way to overcome 'these days.' According to the Deputy Minister of Culture, during last year's nationwide protests, a thousand artists committed 'lawlessness.' Mohammad Hashemi accused these artists of 'playing with national security' and stated that various 'restrictions' have been imposed on about three hundred of them using 'legal levers.' The Deputy Minister encouraged protesting artists to express regret, stating that if someone 'expresses their regret, we will reconsider the punitive decisions and the application of legal levers.' Mohammad Oliaei-Fard, a lawyer, believes that the Iranian judiciary's aim in condemning artists opposing mandatory hijab is to 'humiliate' and 'intimidate' them. Despite the Iranian government's extensive punitive measures against opponents of mandatory hijab, published images of an increasing number of unveiled women in public places indicate the Islamic Republic's failure to enforce mandatory hijab. Criticism from specialists regarding hijab court rulings: determining mental disorders is not within the judge's competence. Anahita Naimati published a veiled photo on the 'Chastity and Hijab' day. Afsaneh Bayegan has also withdrawn from acting. Punishment for opposing mandatory hijab: 10 months in prison in Semnan for Leila Bolukat's hat. Filmmakers protested the strange ruling against an actor; it is an insult to the intelligence of all cinema professionals. Several artists opposing mandatory hijab were summoned; the Tehran prosecutor threatened them with arrest.