Widespread User Protests Against Tehran Municipality's Headline and Photo; It's Shameful

Following an "unprecedented" ruling against Azadeh Samadi, an Iranian actress, for her voluntary dress code, the Hamshahri newspaper, affiliated with the Tehran Municipality, expressed joy over this ruling, labeling it as "celebrity therapy." This action by Hamshahri was met with negative reactions from many users, especially media professionals. Fatemeh Paghalehnejad, a domestic media journalist, shared the front page of Hamshahri on her Twitter, stating, "In an era where such nonsense is published in the name of journalism, I am ashamed to be a journalist." Zahra Damzabadi, a cinema journalist, also tweeted, "Come and say you too felt sick from the photo and headline you see on the cover of Hamshahri and felt moments of shame for being a media person." Zahra Chakhmaghi, a journalist from IRIB, expressed her disgust on Twitter, writing: "The action of Hamshahri newspaper with a photo of a female actress and the headline of celebrity therapy is shameful, shameful, shameful." The Tehran Municipality's press organ described "celebrities" as "thirsty and beggars for likes" and attributed the hijab discovery by female actors to "mental illness" and "self-deprecation." The newspaper further stated: "The same celebrities who once were the heralds of elections are now pursuing the project of hijab discovery and insulting the flag, thirsty and begging for likes and visibility; because they want to regain their lost authority." Hassan Aghakhani, the lawyer for Azadeh Samadi, reacted to the ruling regarding his client, stating to Etemad newspaper: "Unfortunately, the honorable judge has issued a doctrinal statement in his ruling. While according to the law, the judge is obliged to consider legal matters when issuing a verdict." He added: "The actions declared by the prosecutor's office were initially denied and rejected by my client, as she appeared with a hat that completely covered her head. How did the court reach a conclusion of her being uncovered? Allah knows." The lawyer also mentioned, "The most regrettable part of the ruling is attributing unrealistic matters to Ms. Samadi, where no legal or judicial perspective is observed in this section of the ruling." The Tehran Prosecutor's Office on Thursday, July 22, deprived Azadeh Samadi, a "famous actress in Iranian cinema," of using social media and mobile phones for six months due to "hijab discovery" and announced that this actress must visit psychological centers for six months for treatment of her anti-social behavior and ultimately present her health certificate to the authorities. Filmmakers, directors, producers, and actors strongly protested this ruling. Azadeh Samadi attended the funeral of Reza Hadad, a theater director, on June 1, with a voluntary dress code of a "hat" and was summoned to court for this reason. The protests of filmmakers against the strange ruling of one actress; an insult to the intelligence of all cinema professionals. The judiciary's efforts to confront women's civil resistance with "astonishing" rulings continue. Restrictions continue for actors opposing compulsory hijab; Kayhan's attack and prohibition of participation in cinematic works. Issuance of an "arrest warrant" for Azadeh Samadi and Leila Bolukat due to opposition to compulsory hijab. A complaint from a group of clerics and some groups from Qom against female actors and celebrities was "rejected." Female filmmakers selected a five-member committee to address complaints and sexual harassment. Azadeh Samadi announced the formation of a committee to pursue "harassment and sexual violence in cinema."