Two Iranian actresses arrested amid protests

Two prominent Iranian actresses have been arrested on charges of “conspiracy and collusion” amid sweeping protests that have rocked the country in recent months.

Katayoun Riahi and Hengameh Ghaziani were both arrested on Sunday, a day after being summoned by judicial authorities in a probe over their social media posts.

On Sunday evening, Riahi and Ghaziani were arrested upon the prosecutor's order on charges of “conspiracy and collusion to act against the country's security”, state media said.

Riahi, an award-winning actress best known for her role in the series Prophet Joseph (2009), was reportedly arrested from one of her houses near the central province of Qazvin.

The charges against the 60-year-old television and cinema actress include “publishing false information” aimed at “disturbing the minds” of people.

She had recently appeared on the UK-based Persian language news channel, Iran International, without the headscarf, criticizing police crackdown against protesters in Iran.

Hours before Riahi, Ghaziani was arrested on similar charges on the prosecutor’s order, reports said. The 52-year-old actress has won several awards for her cinematic work, including two Crystal Simorgh, a Hafez Award, and an Iran Cinema Celebration Award.

The widespread protests, triggered by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran’s morality police in mid-September, have taken a violent turn in recent weeks.