Iranian actress Sadaf Taherian has been banned from performing in Iran after posting pictures of herself without a hijab on social media. 

She posted the images on her Facebook and Instagram accounts in protest at Iranian laws requiring women to cover their hair in public.

“I was nervous and worried about how people would react to my photos,” Taherian said in an interview with Masih Alinejad on Tablet, a television show on the Voice of America Persian language channel.

“Remembering my past gave me the confidence to post these photos. I recall visiting many film companies to sign a contract, but I would hear many inappropriate comments about my physical appearance.”

 

Et billede slået op af Sadaf Taherian (@sadaftaheriann) den 28. Okt 2015 kl. 5:34 PDT

The response from state media was to photoshop the hijab back onto her picture and warn women that not covering their hair could open them up to violent attacks by encouraging male urges.

Iran’s Ministry of Culture has denounced the actress as “immoral” for posting the pictures.

Taherian, who has no regrets, has also received insults and abuse on social media.

“But I do sympathize with some of them because they are used to seeing Iranian women in the media with hijab, especially female actresses. Why? Because they are forced to wear hijab,” Taherian said.

“I love my career, but I had to surrender myself. I could not do it”

See more photos on Sadaf Taherian's Instagram. 

Watch the full interview below: