# Iranian state crackdown on protest supporters

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/iranian-state-crackdown-on-protest-supporters
> Updated: 2026-10-02T14:49:11.000Z. Sources: 11. Developments: 2.

Following the January 2026 protests against the Islamic Republic, Iranian authorities have implemented legal actions against individuals perceived as supporters of the unrest.

In September 2026, Sadegh Saeedinia, manager of the Saeedinia café chain, was sentenced to over 12 years in prison and faced asset confiscation. The judiciary labeled him an ‘instigator’ of protests in Qom, convicting him of charges including ‘propaganda against national security’. The crackdown also affected his family, with his father facing legal action and the closure of their businesses.

By October 2026, the legal focus extended to the arts, as actress Elnaz Shakerdoust was sentenced to one year in prison and a two-year ban from political, artistic, and online activities. Her conviction for propaganda against the regime stemmed from social media posts expressing grief for those killed during the January protests. While the defense argued the posts were merely expressions of empathy, the Tehran Provincial Appeals Court upheld the ruling.

## Claims

- The Tehran Provincial Appeals Court upheld a one-year prison sentence for actress Elnaz Shakerdoust. (corroborated by 7 sources)
- Shakerdoust received a two-year ban from political, artistic, and online activities as a supplementary punishment. (corroborated by 7 sources)
- Defense attorney Houshang Pourbabayi stated the sentence was based on an emotional social media post expressing grief for those killed during protests. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Shakerdoust previously stated on Instagram that she would not work in Iran following the violent crackdown on protesters. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Iranian authorities have acknowledged more than 3,000 deaths during the protests. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The court charged Shakerdoust with propaganda against the regime. (corroborated by 2 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-02: Elnaz Shakerdoust sentenced to prison in Iran

Iranian actress Elnaz Shakerdoust has been sentenced to one year in prison and a two-year ban on artistic and political activities for social media posts expressing grief for protest victims.

8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/elnaz-shakerdoost-sentenced-to-prison-in-iran

### 2026-09-03: Sadegh Saeedinia jailed and assets seized in Iran

Iranian café chain manager Sadegh Saeedinia has been sentenced to over 12 years in prison and had his assets seized for supporting the January 2026 protests and advocating for strikes.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sadegh-saeedinia-jailed-and-assets-seized-in-iran

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Cite as: Iranian state crackdown on protest supporters. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/iranian-state-crackdown-on-protest-supporters