Iranian Actress Forced to Flee Country After Posting Photos Without Her Hijab

​When Iranian actress and director Sadaf Taherian​ began posting photos of herself without her hijab to social media sites, she was worried. 

[instagram ]https://instagram.com/p/9Io5C0TFSt/?taken-by=sadaftaheriann" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" >

[instagram ]https://instagram.com/p/9Yab7szFXw/?taken-by=sadaftaheriann" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" >

She told ​Masih Alinejad, a journalist who runs the My Stealthy Freedom Facebook page, she was nervous about the backlash she could face for posing without a traditional Muslim head cover. But she had no idea leaders from her own country would condemn and attack her so viciously she'd be forced to flee her home.

[facebook ]https://www.facebook.com/sadaftaheriannn/photos/pb.620673121355520.-2207520000.1446780311./934978023258360/?type=3&theater" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share">

But that's exactly what happened soon after ​Taherian​ posted her photos to Instagram and Facebook. ​Women in the World ​reports the attacks didn't stop at nameless Internet trolls. Soon, officials within the Iranian government were joining in, going as far as to threaten her career. When another actress, ​Chekame Chaman-Mah,​ spoke out on ​Taherian​'s behalf, the government moved to ban both of them from appearing on television. 

Hossein Noushabadi, Iran's ministry of culture and lslamic guidance, lashed out at them in public. "As far as this ministry is concerned, these two individuals are no longer considered to be artists any more and do not have any right to act," ​Noushabadi​ said. That's when Taherian's television show was removed from the airwaves. 

[facebook ]https://www.facebook.com/sadaftaheriannn/photos/pb.620673121355520.-2207520000.1446780311./936402899782539/?type=3&theater" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share">

Because of the threats and attacks, Taherian no longer felt comfortable staying in Iran, so she fled to the ​United Arab Emirates​. "I want to live in a place and live the way that makes me happy," she said. She still continues to post photos to Facebook without her hijab.

[facebook ]https://www.facebook.com/sadaftaheriannn/photos/pb.620673121355520.-2207520000.1446780311./937081033048059/?type=3&theater" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share">

[facebook ]https://www.facebook.com/sadaftaheriannn/photos/a.620679418021557.1073741828.620673121355520/939179692838193/?type=3&theater" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share">

Taherian said she was shocked and disappointed at the severity of the online backlash. 

​"I did not expect this from the people of Iran, from my own culture," she said. "To hear so many insults — I honestly cannot respond to them in the same way. I can only feel sorry for their reaction and I have nothing else to say."

​Follow Rebecca on Instagram.