Iran Targets Superstar Supporters of Protests as Motion Spreads

The demonstrations, which began after Ms. Amini’s funeral on Sept. 17, have unfold throughout the nation, with numerous Iranians mobilizing every day by way of word-of-mouth and posts on social-media networks. The strikes towards celebrities are an extension of an usually violent crackdown on protesters that has left greater than 40 useless, a whole bunch injured and a whole bunch extra arrested.

Authorities accuse these celebrities of fomenting the unrest by supporting the protesters’ trigger and condemning the federal government’s harsh response.

Businesses linked to the hard-line authorities have threatened to take legal motion towards the celebrities in the event that they don’t cease supporting the protests. Different threats embrace the suspension of their licenses to work and seizure of their property. Some well-known Iranians have already seen profitable contracts, together with prime tv slots, both canceled or moved with out purpose.

Days after Ms. Amini’s demise, Katayoun Riahi, an Iranian film star, eliminated her scarf, or hijab, on Instagram—the place she has over 900,000 followers—in an obvious show of assist for Ms. Amini. Many ladies have since eliminated their headscarves in defiance whereas strolling previous riot police.

Ali Karimi, a former star Iranian soccer participant who as soon as performed for Bayern Munich and has over 12 million followers on Instagram, got here out in assist of the demonstrations. “Don’t be afraid of robust ladies. Perhaps the day will come when they’re your solely military,” Mr. Karimi, as soon as dubbed Asia’s Maradona who now lives outdoors Iran, wrote on Twitter for his nearly 600,000 followers.

Authorities have closely restricted entry to the Web in current days, tightening blocks on platforms similar to Instagram and WhatsApp that protesters have relied on to precise dissent and rally assist. On Tuesday, authorities mentioned they’ve recognized some protesters from CCTV footage, in an obvious menace to cease individuals from popping out to show.

Mohammad Mahdi Esmaili, the minister in command of tradition and Islamic steerage—which incorporates the nation’s strict Islamic gown code—mentioned actresses exhibiting their hair ought to change jobs, a menace from a regime that always suspends the licenses to work for minor criticisms of its home insurance policies.

A chat present hosted by Mehran Modiri, a preferred comic on state tv, was left off its programming slate subsequent week, the semiofficial ISNA information company reported, however didn’t give a purpose for it.

The editor of the principle conservative newspaper, a confidant of the Supreme Chief

Ali Khamenei,

mentioned film stars, athletes and artists must pay for instigating the protests, with out specifying how. Demonstrators out in assist of the federal government on Sunday known as them “movie star traitors,” lumping them with Israel and the U.S. as enemies of the state.

About 130,000 individuals signed a web based petition launched by the conservative Fars information company demanding the arrest of Mr. Karimi and different celebrities on allegations that they instigated the riots.

In a tweet, Mr. Karimi expressed dismay on the petition. “Was my assist for the individuals of my land improper?” he requested.

In Tehran, the authorities took down billboards selling a sequence and a film that includes Shahab Hosseini, a preferred actor who starred in Iran’s first Oscar-winning film, “A Separation,” after he condemned the federal government crackdown. Messrs. Hosseini, Modiri and Karimi and Ms. Riahi didn’t return a request for remark.

“My identify is free from the system’s management and never getting used anymore in favor of ‘you,’ ” Mr. Hosseini mentioned, referring to the federal government.

—Aresu Eqbali and David S. Cloud contributed to this text.

Write to Benoit Faucon at benoit.faucon@wsj.com