Iran to release actresses on bail: judiciary

AFP -- Iran's judiciary spokesman Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie announced on Monday the release on bail of Iranian actress and filmmaker Pegah Ahangarani and actress Marzieh Vafamehr, IRNA news agency said.

The two women were arrested separately earlier this month.

"These two people have been prosecuted following reports by security officials. The preliminary investigations on them have been completed and they should be released on bail today or tomorrow," Ejeie was quoted as saying.

Last week, Tehran's prosecution service confirmed the arrest of Ahangarani, who was due to travel to Germany to write her impressions of the Women's World Cup in an Internet blog created especially for her by German broadcaster Deutsche Welle.

Before the arrest, the authorities had prevented her from leaving the country.

She supported former prime minister turned opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi's candidacy in Iran's June 2009 presidential election which resulted in the disputed re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for a second term.

Vafamehr was arrested after appearing in the movie "My Tehran for Sale," which has been harshly criticised in conservative circles.

The film, produced in collaboration with Australia, tells the story of a young actress living in Tehran whose theatre work is banned by the authorities. She is then forced to lead a secret life in order to express herself artistically.

The Fars news agency said the movie had not been approved for screening in Iran and was being distributed in the country illegally.