Iran actress in Australian film released from prison

Sentence was reduced to 3 months, lashes canceled for Marzieh Vafamehr, convicted for appearing in movie critical of Tehran's regime.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
'My Tehran For Sale' 311 (photo credit: Courtesy)
'My Tehran For Sale' 311
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Marzieh Vafamehr, an Iranian actress imprisoned for appearing in an Australian film critical of the Islamic Republic's regime, was freed after her sentence was reduced to three months and the punishment of lashes was dropped, Amnesty International reported on Saturday.
Vafamehr's original sentence of one year in prison and 90 lashes was handed down in early October, drawing condemnation from Australia.
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Producers of the film, My Tehran for Sale, Kate Croser and Julie Ryan of Cyan Films, were pleased to hear of Vafamehr's release and issued a joint statement, "As filmmakers we believe in freedom of speech and support all artists who are imprisoned and punished in Iran for expressing themselves through their art."
My Tehran for Sale is an Australian-produced film critical of Iran's hard-line policies. Actress Marzieh Vafamehr had no role in the production of the film beyond acting, producers said, according to a report by The Sydney Morning Herald on October 11.
The film, which was shot in Tehran, is a story about the censoring of performing arts in the Islamic Republic.
My Tehran For Sale was banned in Iran but black market copies have made their way into the country.