She was active in the film business for more than two decades and celebrated numerous successes, explained Alidoosti. But now it’s over for them. With her decision she wanted to set an example in the fight against the Islamic headscarf law. Alidoosti received widespread support and praise on social networks.
Her best-known films include the dramas “The Salesman” and “All About Elly”, both directed by two-time Oscar winner Asghar Farhadi.
Actress expressed solidarity with women’s movement
In December 2022, Alidoosti was arrested in the wake of the nationwide protests in Iran. She had previously expressed her solidarity with the women’s movement and published a photo on Instagram without a headscarf. The security authorities accused her of “supporting counter-revolutionary circles.” Alidoosti was later banned from working. Despite lucrative offers from abroad, she decided to stay in Iran.
The trigger for the women’s movement and the nationwide protests in Iran was the death of the young Kurdish woman Mahsa Jina Amini in September 2022. She was arrested for allegedly violating the requirement to wear a headscarf and died in police custody a few days later. Since then, many women, especially in big cities, have ignored the obligation to wear a headscarf. Even a law with draconian penalties passed by hardliners in parliament could do little to change this.
This message was sent on December 26th, 2025 on the Deutschlandfunk program.
