Tehran, July 27 (dpa/GNA) – The Iranian film star Pejman Jamshidi, has been acquitted of rape charges following a nationwide #MeToo debate, his defence team said on Monday.
However, the court sentenced the 48-year-old actor to 99 lashes for an “illicit relationship,” the Iranian news agency Fars reported, citing his defence team. According to the report, the verdict can be appealed to the Supreme Court. No statement was initially available from the judiciary.
A young actress filed an anonymous complaint against Jamshidi in October. The well-known film star was briefly detained and temporarily left the country after being released on bail. He has consistently denied the allegations.
The case sparked a nationwide debate about violence and power dynamics in the Iranian film industry. The case forms part of a global phenomenon that began with the Harvey Weinstein case in 2017 and has since challenged the structures of power and silence in many countries.
A tentative #MeToo movement has been emerging in Iran for several years. However, the public discourse on sexual violence is characterized by mistrust, taboos and legal hurdles. Extramarital relationships in Iran are prohibited under Islamic law. In extreme cases, rapists can be sentenced to death.
GNA