Two Cinema Actors Charged with 'Public Disorder' for 'Removing Hijab'

Two days after the appearance of two actresses without hijab at a ceremony honoring Attila Pessiani, the Tehran Police Information Center announced the formation of a legal case against Afsaneh Bayegan and Fatemeh Motamed-Arya for 'removing hijab and disturbing public order.' In a statement released by the police information center, which was published by the Fars news agency on Tuesday, it was also reported that the case had been sent to 'judicial authorities.' The presence of Afsaneh Bayegan and Fatemeh Motamed-Arya without hijab at the ceremony honoring Attila Pessiani, a veteran director and actor, at the Artists' House, and the publication of images from the event on social media over the past two days has sparked significant reactions, particularly regarding Afsaneh Bayegan's appearance without the mandatory hijab while wearing earrings with the symbol of the lion and sun. Her images without hijab and with lion and sun earrings caught the attention of social media users. Yaghma Fakhshami, a journalist with a history of previous arrests, tweeted a photo of Afsaneh Bayegan alongside Katayoun Riahi and Pantea Bahram, stating that the reality is that 'women have never lost a war throughout history.' Mina Akbari, a journalist and filmmaker, noted that Afsaneh Bayegan's appearance without the mandatory hijab was to ensure she 'does not leave her sisters alone in this struggle.' Ehsan Karami, an actor and singer opposed to the Islamic Republic, tweeted about 'the beautiful image of Ms. Afsaneh Bayegan with those lion and sun earrings and her free hair and clothing,' addressing the Minister of Culture: 'So shut your mouth and stop talking about preventing the presence of hijab-less artists in artistic gatherings. A minister whose words are not heard is not a minister.' Pirouz Nahavandi, a Twitter user, described Afsaneh Bayegan's appearance without the mandatory hijab and with lion and sun earrings at a 'formal ceremony' as 'a very big slap in the face of the government' that 'comes from the bravery of someone like her.' Ahmad Vakhshiteh, a researcher, called Afsaneh Bayegan's action 'courage,' 'valor,' and 'great virtue' that 'brings about the greatest changes.' However, some pro-Islamic Republic users shared an image of Ms. Bayegan without hijab alongside a picture of her in a chador during the Arbaeen pilgrimage and criticized her. Fatemeh Shayestekho, a Twitter user, in response to these criticisms, referred to Afsaneh Bayegan being a 'worthy daughter' during the reign of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi and stated that most negative reactions were due to the actress's earrings, causing supporters of the Islamic Republic to 'forget in their anger about Katayoun Riahi, Golab Adineh, and Maryam Bobani.' Following the onset of nationwide protests with the central slogan 'Women, Life, Freedom,' civil disobedience by women and their presence without mandatory hijab in public places has increased. They consider freedom to be 'a daily practice.' Roya Karimi-Majd, a journalist, previously told Voice of America that the continued presence of women without hijab in the streets will gradually become a normal process.