Top Iran actress Taraneh Alidoosti, who supported protests in Iran, arrested

(BBC) - Iranian authorities have arrested one of the country's best known actresses, after she expressed solidarity with anti-government demonstrators.

Iranian state media reported, Taraneh Alidoosti was detained on charges of "spreading falsehoods" about the protest movement that has gripped the country. 

In an Instagram post last week, Taraneh Alidoosti condemned the execution of a man over his involvement with the protests.

In her post, the 38-year-old took aim at some international organisations for not speaking out against the execution of Mohsen Shekari.

"His name was Mohsen Shekari. Every international organisation who is watching this bloodshed and not taking action, is a disgrace to humanity," she wrote.

The Iranian actress Alidoosti is best known for her role in the Oscar-winning film The Salesman.

Her Instagram account, which has more than eight million followers, was recently taken down.

In November, she attracted attention after posting an image of herself on Instagram without a headscarf to signal solidarity with the demonstrations.

The protest movement has become one of the most serious challenges to the Iranian regime since it came to power in the 1979 revolution.