Thousands Demonstrate In Tehran On Death Of Banned Film Star

Iranian protesters rally in support of Naser Malek Motiee.

A banned film star's death has prompted mass demonstrations in Tehran.

Thousands of Iranians took to the streets on May 27 to pay tribute to Nasser Malek Motiee, who died at age 88.

Malek Motiee was a superstar before the Islamic Revolution, but he disappeared from screens after 1979 like many other prerevolutionary artists.

The Islamic regime associated him with Western-style decadence. But his popularity endured, even among young Iranians.

Demonstrators chanted slogans, condemning Iran's Islamic regime for blacklisting Malek Motiee and ignoring him in state-run media.

Witnesses reported that security forces used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators.