An Iranian actress has been seized by security police after removing her hijab in public to show support for the ongoing protests in Iran.

Hengameh Ghaziani, 52, was arrested after the images were shared on social media and accused of collusion and acting against the authorities in Iran.

Under Iranian law, women must wear a hijab in public or face severe punishments like 74 lashes or two months behind bars.

The award-winning star can be seen in the footage having taken her hijab off and tying her hair in a ponytail.

The pose has become a symbol of women participating in the protest movement in Iran, according to independent Iranian media.

She also reportedly said on social media that she stood with the protesters.

Ghaziani reportedly said: “Maybe this is my last post, from now on whatever happens to me, know that I will be with the people until my last breath.”

Iranian forces have been cracking down on waves of civil disorder following the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, from Saqqez, Kurdistan Province, who was on a visit to Tehran when she was arrested by morality police, accused of violating hijab rules on 13th September.

She was allegedly beaten while in custody and spent the following days in a coma in the hospital before dying in an intensive care unit on 16th September.

The clinic where she was treated said in a now-deleted social media post that she had been admitted brain-dead.

Alleged medical scans of her skull leaked by hackers showed that she had suffered bone fractures, haemorrhages, and brain oedema.

Independent Iranian media have claimed that Mahsa’s medical records showing her history of heart disease were faked by the Iranian government.

Numbers differ regarding how many people have been killed since the protests began.

The ongoing protests have so far claimed at least 378 lives, including 47 children, and injured at least 1,160, according to independent estimates.

It is also understood that over 15,000 people have so far been arrested.