Taraneh Alidoosti Supports Mehdi Yarahy: Protest Art is the Right of Artists

Taraneh Alidoosti, an Iranian cinema actress, reacted to the arrest of Mehdi Yarahy by stating that protest art is the right of artists and called for his release. On Wednesday night, Ms. Alidoosti published a video of Mehdi Yarahy on her Instagram account and demanded his freedom. She also reposted her note from August 2022, writing: 'These arrests, bans, and both overt and covert violence will fluctuate with your chair games, but one day it will end. However, it will not stop the dynamic process of culture and art in a region.' Taraneh Alidoosti is one of the artists who has supported protesters over the past year and was briefly detained herself. Last week, at the beginning of September, a new work by Mehdi Yarahy titled 'Take Off Your Scarf' was released on the anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the Islamic Republic police, supporting civil disobedience by Iranian women against mandatory hijab, which received widespread reactions. Shortly after the release of this protest work, Islamic Republic officials threatened Mehdi Yarahy with 'judicial action,' although the singer posted a message on his personal account on the X messaging platform (Twitter) using the hashtag '#Mahsa_Amini', stating: 'Don't cry, I am the nightmare of this judge.' The judiciary of the Islamic Republic announced on Tuesday, September 6, the news of Mehdi Yarahy's arrest. Yarahy's arrest has sparked reactions from many cultural, artistic, and political activists. Previously, Mohsen Chavoshi and Mohsen Namjoo, two singers inside and outside Iran, reacted to Mehdi Yarahy's arrest and condemned it. Widespread reactions to the arrest of Mehdi Yarahy; a singer who preferred to be dignified offstage. Mehdi Yarahy's new work: 'Take Off Your Scarf, Unveil Your Hair.' Mohsen Chavoshi and Mohsen Namjoo condemned Mehdi Yarahy's arrest: 'You are a fighter.' Widespread domestic and international reactions to the arrest of Mehdi Yarahy; someone who stands with his people is not alone. The arrest of the singer of 'Take Off Your Scarf'; Mehdi Yarahy: 'We must continuously speak of the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's murder.'