Iranian actress Elnaz Shakerdoost has been sentenced to one year in prison after posting about people killed during January’s protests. An appeals court has upheld the sentence, according to her lawyer and human rights monitors.
The ruling also prevents Shakerdoost from political, artistic and online activities for two years. The initial sentence was issued by Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.
Shakerdoost, who has appeared in dozens of films during her two-decade career, had publicly expressed grief over those killed during the protests. She also said in February that she would no longer perform in Iran.
Actress Faces Prison Sentence Over Protest Statement
The case relates to a social media post Shakerdoost published following the January protests. Her lawyer said the post expressed grief and sympathy for those who had died.
According to her lawyer, the post did not call for collective action or refer to government institutions. However, the actress was convicted on a charge of “propaganda against the system”.
The Tehran Province Court of Appeals later upheld the one-year prison sentence. It also confirmed the two-year restrictions on her political, artistic and online activities.
Shakerdoost’s current whereabouts remain unknown.
Elnaz Shakerdoost Speaks Out After Protest Crackdown
In February, Shakerdoost publicly addressed the deaths linked to the crackdown on nationwide protests. She said she would no longer participate in celebrations or accept acting roles in Iran.
In her post, she said “I am in mourning for my dear ones; what festival, what celebration can there be? I will participate in no celebration, and I will never again play any role on this soil that smells of blood”.
The actress had built a prominent career in Iranian cinema before the latest legal action. Her statement placed her among Iranian artists who publicly addressed the unrest and its aftermath.
January Protests and Death Toll Claims
The protests began in January amid anger over the cost of living and later spread across Iran. Iranian authorities moved to suppress the nationwide demonstrations.
Rights groups have estimated that tens of thousands of people were killed during the crackdown. However, Iranian authorities have acknowledged more than 3,000 deaths.
The government has attributed those deaths to protesters and what it describes as orchestration by the United States and Israel.
The differing accounts have created a major dispute over the scale and circumstances of the deaths. Meanwhile, Shakerdoost’s case has drawn renewed attention to the consequences faced by prominent figures who spoke about the protests.
The actress’s prison sentence has now been upheld on appeal, while the two-year restrictions on her political, artistic and online activities remain part of the ruling.
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