Yet another victim of the morality police. Actress Afsaneh Bayegan, 61, was sentenced "to two years in prison, suspended for five years, for violating the law on the Muslim veil," according to Fars news agency. The actress had posted photos of herself without a veil on Instagram during the protest movement that followed the death, in September 2022, of Mahsa Amini, a young Iranian Kurd detained by the morality police who accused her of violating the strict dress code imposed on women.
In addition to this heavy sentence, the actress is banned from leaving Iran and using social networks for two years. The actress must also visit a psychological center once a week "to treat anti-family personality disorder," Fars added.
Patrols to punish unveiled women
Since the protests sparked by Mahsa Amini's death, the crackdown on unveiled women had intensified. Last Sunday, the national police announced that they had reinstated patrols to punish women, more and more of whom do not wear the veil in public places. On Monday, the Islamic Republic News Agency IRNA even announced the closure of a major network of educational centers for "inciting" students to participate in protests related to the death of the Iranian girl.
Since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Iranian law has required all women to wear a veil covering their head and neck and concealing their hair. Afsaneh Bayegan was one of the first stars of Iranian television and cinema after the Islamic Revolution. Last December, a well-known actress and comedian was arrested and detained in prison for posting a photo on Instagram without a veil.