The self fulfilling prophecy that comes back to haunt one Iranian actress.

Perhaps by choosing to appear in an Iranian film, co produced by the Australian government, ‘My Tehran for sale,’ which seeks to examine the limitations imposed on the Islamic women and that of the artist, Iranian actress Marzieh Vafamehr may have on some perverse level brought the drama of the film to reality by drawing a one year jail sentence and 90 lashes for her purported role in the film.

The film, made in 2009, to date not approved for screening in Iran (can we really wonder why?) was said to so have upset various ‘conservative’ circles in Iran who mustered enough of a political will to have the actress punished.

To date no word has been issued as to whether other actors involved in the film will be or have been punished or that of the producers or director, Mr Granaz Moussavi.

In the film it is said that Ms Vafamehr, who plays the part of disenfranchised female actress living outside of Iran is portrayed in various scenes without a head scarf and with her head shaved. The film also goes on to explore the dynamics of female relationships, female encounters as well forbidden phone conversations with her sister.

At this stage one is tempted to wonder how or if the type of punishment being meted out is being applied with particular discretion based on those involved specific gender. Which were that to be the case would be an indictment once again on the female gender within Islamic culture, never mind the artistic limitations already imposed on those individuals who seek to explore issues beyond a preferred scripted dogma.

As of press, it is understood that Ms Vafamehr’s lawyer has appealed her sentence.

Such it seems are the oppressive burdens of being a woman who dares to behave or intimate behavior other than that scripted of her in Islamic society.

thevine.com.au