An Iranian theater company is facing a criminal case after a spectator’s cellphone captured an actress resting her head against a male actor’s chest during a performance, in a scene authorities described as a violation of ‘social norms’.
The play, ‘Tehran Paris Tehran’, follows a young woman named Sara as she travels from Tehran to Paris and later returns to Tehran to seek revenge for her father’s murder.
Cellphone footage sparks legal case
The scene shows lead actress Fatemeh Masoudifar leaning her head towards actor Mehrdad Sedighian’s chest, with Sedighian appearing to place his hand on her head.
Iranian prosecutors opened a criminal case against the theater company following the footage.
Public physical contact between unrelated men and women is prohibited under Iran’s Islamic Republic, and the restrictions also apply to theatrical performances.
However, the production company said the cellphone video was misleading because it was filmed from a tight angle, making the actors appear closer together than they actually were on stage at Tehran’s Book Garden, Iran International reported.
Production company disputes interpretation
The company also said the two characters involved in the scene are brother and sister.
It said the physical contact therefore would not be prohibited under Islamic law.
According to the production company, the embrace took place during a moment of crisis in the story.
Masoudifar plays Sara, the lead character, while Sedighian portrays her brother in the scene.
The case is the latest legal action involving Iranian artists over alleged violations of the country’s religious laws.
Musicians also face legal action
Earlier this week, an appeals court in Qom upheld the convictions of singer Parastoo Ahmadi and seven other musicians over a December 2024 YouTube concert.
Ahmadi performed without wearing a hijab during the concert.
The eight musicians were each sentenced to 74 lashes and banned from performing or travelling for two years.
