Iran Actress, Afsaneh Bayegan, Gets 2 Years In Jail For Not Wearing Headscarf

Afsaneh Bayegan is a 62 years old Iranian filmmaker and television actress who was born on the 2nd of January, 1961. Acting became Afsaneh Bayegan’s passion from a young age. She pursued her goals by majoring in Drama at the University of Tehran where she learnt a great deal about her talent. With her talent and knowledge, she quickly established a reputation in the Iranian entertainment industry. She began her acting career in 1984 when she featured in The series ” Sarbedaran“. As an adult, her first movie was “Missing” and since then, she made multiple film appearances and rose to prominence as one of the best actresses in Iran.

Iranian actress , Afsaneh Bayegan has captivated audiences with her remarkable skills and striking performances. In the Iranian film and television Industries. Bayegan has established herself as a leading figure thanks to her adaptability and talent for playing diverse characters. Her journey has been marked by some difficulties and achievements as she has endured criticism and legal punishment for defying social norms particularly with regard to Iran’s compulsory headscarf.

Irrespective of the fact that Bayegan is a popular actress, she has become a controversial figure in Iran because of unwillingness to wear the required Headscarf, also referred to as the Hijab in public. The Islamic Republic of Iran has made the wearing of headscarves in public a legal requirement for women since the Islamic Revolution in 1979 and those who don’t risk facing prosecution .

According to a local media in Iran, an Iranian Court sentences a popular actress to two years imprisonment on Wednesday,19th of July, 2023 for not wearing the mandatory hijab Headscarf in public.

In public, women are required by law to cover their heads and after violating this order, the court asked to visit a psychological center to treat her for ” the mental disorder  of having an anti- family personality” on a weekly basis and submit a health certificate afterwards. The ruling also forbade her from leaving the country and denied her access to social media.

She was detained after failing to wear a Hijab at a movie premiere and uploading pictures of herself on social media. She also showed support for the protesters who lost their lives during the protest.

Afsaneh Bayegan was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended over five years for wearing a hat and failing to comply with the hijab law.” Fars news reported. In a post on her Instagram page, Bayegan claimed that she *Two months ago, I went to Shahzad Theater Comokevs to watch a theater performance. I wore a hat that covered most of my head and only a little of my hair and neck could be seen. Now, I face three to 12 months’ imprisonment under article 640 of the Penal Code.” She added, that the article says that “anyone who exhibits or puts for public viewing, films, which offends public decency or morals. This means that if I am seen in public without a hijab, I will be fined according to article 638; If I attend a show wearing a hat, I will be imprisoned for a year???”

Due to the court ruling against the Iranian actress, the “Women, Life, Freedom ” protesters began to gather in large numbers against the compulsory Hijab. They have launched extensive rallies in this regard.

In a joint statement issued on July 19, the Iranian Director’s Guild and Producers Union responded to the rulings by labeling them a “insult to the intelligence of all cinema professionals”. Additionally, they promised to stand for all Iranian women actresses and directors who were negatively impacted by these verdicts.

The country’s actors are increasingly appearing in public without wearing the required hijab to express their disagreement which is prompting a backlash on social media and among filmmakers as a result of these verdicts.

Before her sentence, Beyegan showed her support towards the six month protest last year because of the death of Mahsa Amini, aged 22, who was arrested in September for violating the dress code. Amini was arrested for allegedly not putting on a hijab. It was reported that she died in detention- The law enforcement command of Iran stated she had a heart attack while other eyewitnesses reported that she was beaten mercilessly which resulted in her death.

Since the protest, Iranian women continue to break the dress code and the government has intensified police searches for women who are breaking the law.