Veteran Actress Afsaneh Bayegan Summoned to Prosecutor’s Office for Failing to Observe Mandatory Hijab

Veteran actress Afsaneh Bayegan announced her summons to the prosecutor’s office due to non-compliance with mandatory hijab regulations.

Afsaneh Bayegan’s presence over the past two months (Ordibehesht) at a tribute ceremony for Atila Pesyani, held at the House of Artists, and images published of her without a hijab wearing earrings bearing the symbols of the Lion and Sun, generated widespread attention on social media.

Now, videos of her circulating on social networks have led her to the prosecutor’s office. Afsaneh Bayegan opposes mandatory hijab and two months ago attended the theater play “Cafe Asheghi” wearing a hat, which has now resulted in charges under Article 640 of the Islamic Penal Code and according to the indictment, for conduct contrary to chastity and public morality (exposing an object). She was summoned to the prosecutor’s office on Saturday, 17 Tir, for clarifications.

Afsaneh Bayegan wrote on her personal Instagram page: “Two months ago, I attended the theater play Cafe Asheghi at the Shahrzad performance hall while wearing a hat on my head. This hat covered a large portion of my head, and only a small part of my hair and neck were visible. One of the backstage staff of the mentioned play asked my opinion at the end of the performance, and out of respect for the group’s efforts, I responded politely. A video taken of me with a phone was then published on social media platforms.

Now I am charged under Article 640, which means exposing an object contrary to chastity and public morality. We can conclude that in this interpretation, I am being examined as an object. That is, if I appear without a hijab on the street, I would be subject to the provision of Article 638 and deserve a monetary penalty, but if I attend a play wearing a hat, I deserve one year imprisonment?”

According to Ms. Bayegan’s statements, her case has been referred to Branch 1088, a branch where a judge from the judicial complex is occasionally sent to the Guidance judicial complex for a few hours to issue several severe sentences and then return. Ms. Bayegan, while criticizing the issued indictment, said: “In the indictment issued, they have written that the punishment stipulated in the provision of Article 638 is insufficient for me and severe action is necessary. Why? Because I am an artist.”

She also emphasized that in previous years she had participated in the Fajr International Film Festival with the same clothing style and photos of her were published on social media, but she had not even received a single warning regarding this attire, and added: “Do I have knowledge of the unseen to know that today this same way of dressing is considered a crime?”