Taraneh Alidoosti, an Iranian actress, stands without her headscarf in support of anti-hijab demonstrations

Taraneh Alidoosti, an Iranian actress, supported the September-starting nationwide anti-hijab protests by sharing a photo of herself on Instagram sans a headscarf. Taraneh Alidoosti, who received an Academy Award for her performance in “The Salesman,” was visible in the picture holding a sign that said “Woman, Life, Freedom” in Kurdish.

In the protests that followed Mahsa Amini’s death on September 16 while being held by the morality police for not wearing “suitable dress,” the phrase has become a campaign slogan.

Since the 1979 revolution, the protests have presented Iran’s leadership with one of its largest problems. Taraneh Alidoosti composed a poem in response to the image that said, “Your final absence, the migration of singing birds, is not the end of this rebellion.”

Taraneh Alidoosti has previously published a number of social media posts that are critical of Iran’s government.

At least five Iranian actors have posted photos of themselves without the headscarf in support of the protesters since the start of the demonstrations.

Local human rights groups estimate that 14,800 people have been imprisoned and at least 328 people have been killed.

The star’s post is the most recent show of solidarity from Iran’s top artists and athletes.

Sardar Azmoun, a prominent footballer from Iran, supported protesters last month as the government’s violence grew more severe. In an Instagram post, the Bayern Leverkusen forward criticised the security forces, writing: “You should feel guilty for so easily murdering Iranian citizens and viva ladies. Live long, women of Iran!”

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