Elnaz Shakerdoust, an Iranian actress with a long career in film and a recipient of many awards at Iranian festivals, has been sentenced to one year in prison for her alleged support of protesters who were killed during the violent crackdown on demonstrations in January 2026. This information comes from Iranian-based organizations located outside the country, such as the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) and the media outlet Emtedad. Both organizations confirmed the sentence through interviews with the actress's lawyer. The exact dates of the original court ruling and the appeal decision by Iranian authorities are unknown. A friend of Shakerdoust told AFP in Paris that she is not currently in prison, but it is unclear whether she is still in Iran. Shakerdoust, who has appeared in dozens of films, had previously stated that she would no longer work in Iran after the crackdown. In February, when the main annual Tehran film festival, Fajr, began, she wrote on Instagram: "I cry for my dear compatriots who died, how can there be a festival? I will not take part in any celebration and I will not play any role on this blood-soaked land." This statement reflected her deep emotional response to the violence and her decision to distance herself from the country's cultural events. The protests that led to the crackdown began in late December 2025, initially sparked by rising living costs. However, they quickly evolved into large-scale anti-government demonstrations, reaching their peak on January 8 and 9, 2026. According to non-governmental organizations, the crackdown resulted in thousands of deaths. The Iranian government has acknowledged more than 3,000 deaths but attributes the violence to "terrorist acts" orchestrated by the United States and Israel. Shakerdoust, 42, has appeared in over 50 films over the course of her two-decade-long career. She has also been outspoken on social issues. In 2021, she condemned the murder of a young man in the southwest of Iran by his family due to his homosexuality. Her Instagram post on the incident caused outrage among conservative groups and was subsequently removed by Iranian authorities.