Nazanin Boniadi, an Iranian-British actress and activist, has spoken out about the brutal regime crackdown in Iran, where security forces are said to have killed about 12,000 protesters during widespread protests in all 31 provinces. Boniadi talked about how hard it was for her to deal with the emotional toll, including videos of protesters being shot at close range, even in hospitals, after a communications blackout was put in place on January 8. She talked about messages from dissidents asking for help from around the world: “If we die for the cause, let it not be in vain.”
Boniadi said she was heartbroken by Hollywood’s lack of response, especially since the industry has a history of supporting oppressed groups. She rejected the regime’s story that blamed the U.S. and quoted writer Rasha Alaqih: “A government that kills its own people cannot free mine.” She said that true solidarity means going after the regime’s tools of repression, restoring internet access, and supporting democratic institutions led by Iranians.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power star told Western leaders, including President Trump, to keep their promises of help as rumors of regime change spread. She warned that pulling support now would leave protesters facing martial law and death sentences without trials, which is similar to what people are afraid of happening in Venezuela because of Trump’s policies. Boniadi said that Iranian slogans are only aimed at the Islamic Republic, not the West, and that human rights should go beyond politics.
