Dariush Mehrjui’s Support for Athletes and Popular Artists
Dariush Mehrjui, the director and screenwriter, in a letter addressed to Ali Karimi, Ali Daei, and Elnaz Rekabi, which he sent to BBC Persian, stated that he admires the courage of these athletes in standing with the people of Iran and their rightful demands. He also expressed condolences to the people for the tragedy of the killing of innocent teenagers and young people, and before signing, he wrote ‘In unison and in solidarity with you.’
Ali Karimi and Ali Daei, stars of Iranian football, have repeatedly defended the nationwide protests in Iran. Elnaz Rekabi, the rock climber, also competed in the Asian Championships in Seoul without a hijab, which led many Iranians to praise her bravery and, despite her securing the fourth place in Asia, to call her a champion.
Since the onset of the protests in Iran, now in its sixth week, many prominent figures in cinema, art, and literature have supported the protesters. However, those figures who remained silent in the face of these protests and did not take a stance against the Iranian government were severely criticized by the protesters.