Iran Anti-Hijab Protests: The letter requested that they look into the celebrities’ tax records, which was part of a well-coordinated campaign against them.
According to leaked documents, Iranian authorities established a “secret” committee last year to monitor celebrities who backed the sizable anti-hijab demonstrations that broke out after Mahsa Amini’s death.
The committee provided the economy ministry with a list of 141 well-known individuals in a letter dated September 22 of last year. The letter ordered them to look into their tax returns, signalling a well-planned attack on the celebrities who took part in the widespread demonstrations.
After the murder of Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish-Iranian woman aged 22, who had been held by the contentious morality police for wearing her hijab improperly while wearing it, protests broke out across Iran. Following Mahsa Amini’s death in custody, there were massive protests that lasted for months and resulted in the deaths of hundreds of protestors.
According to the BBC, the Iranian leadership was keeping an eye on actors Taraneh Alidoosti and athletic icon Ali Daei. Iranian police announced earlier this month that they would start enforcing the country’s severe dress code violations by women by deploying “smart” technology in public areas.
Following the announcement of a crackdown on violations, Iran also reportedly filed charges against two well-known actresses, Katayoun Riahi and Pantea Bahram, for releasing images of themselves without a headscarf, according to local media.
