The Iranian government has said two actresses appearing unveiled in a picture will be charged to court. The government said the ladies flouted Iran’s mandatory hijab law.
Katayoun Riahi, 61, posted her picture online without a veil while Pantea Bahram, 53, posed for a picture during film screening without a head covering. These pictures went viral causing police to accuse them of “the crime of removing hijab in public and posting photos on the internet,” local media in Iran said.
The prosecution team said the actresses will likely pay fines or face jail term.
Recently, the government warned that new technology will be adopted and surveillance cameras will be used to track down women not wearing hijabs in public places.
According to Iran’s Islamic Penal Code; any act deemed “offensive” to public decency is punishable by 10 days to two months in prison or 74 lashes. The law applies to girls and women from age nine who appear unveiled in public places.
Last year, a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini died in morality police custody after she was arrested for not wearing a hijab.
This caused public outrage which led to many weeks of nationwide protests. Women and girls who joined the protest were brutally attacked causing the death of Sarina Esmailzadeh, Nika Shakarami, Hadis Najafi, among others.
