Seventy-nine-year-old actress Susan Sarandon was arrested in New York during a pro-Palestinian protest near the United Nations headquarters. The «Thelma & Louise» star joined other demonstrators in blocking a road ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to the UN General Assembly.

Sarandon took part in the demonstration wearing a T-shirt bearing the slogan «Fund people not bombs». When protesters occupied the roadway, police repeatedly instructed them to clear the street.

According to the «New York Post», some of the demonstrators moved onto the sidewalk, while others remained seated in the street. Officers then began arresting them one by one. Sarandon was among those detained — the actress was handcuffed and taken to a police bus.

According to authorities and organizers, around 104 people were arrested during the demonstration. Actress Hannah Einbinder, known for the series «Hacks», was also among those detained. Actress and activist Cynthia Nixon and actor Elliot Page were also spotted at the protest.

The demonstrators called for Benjamin Netanyahu to be arrested and held signs demanding an end to military support for Israel.

According to media reports, Oscar winner Sarandon was later released. She was issued a summons to appear in court in connection with an alleged public-order violation.

 

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Iranian security forces have arrested singer Parasto Ahmadi and her musicians for performing at an online concert where the singer appeared with bare shoulders and without a hijab. The singer has been accused of violating the laws of the Islamic Republic, reports ABC News.

According to the singer’s lawyer, Milad Panahipour, Iranian laws prohibit women from singing solo or appearing in public without a hijab. Those accused of «promoting or spreading obscenity, refusing to wear the hijab, and improper conduct» face up to 10 years in prison. In some cases, if the authorities determine that the hijab violation is linked to «collaboration with foreign states to promote breaches of modesty standards», the penalty could even be death.

Ahmadi’s performance, in which she exposed her shoulders and did not cover her head, appears to have been a deliberate act of defiance. In the past, she had participated in nationwide protests against mandatory hijab-wearing. Her home was searched, and she was interrogated by security forces.

As for the current incident, the online concert went viral on Iranian YouTube, garnering over 1.5 million views in just one day. The news quickly spread through global media, receiving widespread attention. Consequently, the police chief of Mazandaran held a briefing and announced that singer Parasto Ahmadi had been released and allowed to return home.