Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Iranian Actress Sentenced to Year in Prison Over Protest Support
Iranian actress Elnaz Shakerdoust has been given a one-year prison sentence.
The sentence was upheld when it was appealed.
Reports say the case was about her support for protesters killed during a crackdown in January.
She also received a two-year ban on political, artistic, and online activities.
In February, she said she would not perform in Iran again.
She also wrote that she was mourning people who had died.
Her current location is not known.
A friend said she was not in prison at the time, but could not say whether she was in Iran.
Rights groups estimate that tens of thousands died in the crackdown, while Iran's government has acknowledged more than 3,000 deaths.
Iranian actress Elnaz Shakerdoust was sentenced to one year in prison for supporting protesters killed in January's crackdown.
The sentence was upheld on appeal, according to HRANA and the independent outlet Emtedad, citing her lawyer.
The sentence also includes a two-year ban on political, artistic, and online activities.
Shakerdoust said in February that she would never perform in Iran again and expressed mourning for those killed.
Her current whereabouts are unknown; a friend said she was not currently in prison but could not confirm whether she was in Iran.
- Who
- Iranian actress Elnaz Shakerdoust.
- What
- She was sentenced to one year in prison for supporting protesters killed in January's crackdown; the sentence was upheld on appeal and includes a two-year activity ban.
- When
- The sentence was upheld by Friday, according to the report; Shakerdoust's public statement was made in February.
- Where
- Iran.
- Why
- She was accused of propaganda activities against the Islamic Republic, and reports linked the sentence to her support for protesters killed in the crackdown.
Rights groups
Iranian government
Deaths during January's crackdown
Rights groups
Rights groups estimate that tens of thousands of people were killed.
Iranian government
The government has acknowledged more than 3,000 deaths and blames them on protesters and US-Israeli orchestration.
- Prison sentence
- One year
- Appeal
- The sentence was upheld on appeal, according to HRANA and Emtedad, citing her lawyer.
- Additional restriction
- Two-year ban on political, artistic, and online activities
- Accusation
- Propaganda activities against the Islamic Republic, according to a friend quoted in the report
- Whereabouts
- Unknown; a friend said she was not currently in prison but could not confirm whether she was in Iran.
- Death toll estimates
- Rights groups estimate tens of thousands were killed; the government has acknowledged more than 3,000 deaths.