Marzieh Vafamehr faces prison and the lash for appearing in a movie critical of Teheran regime.

An Iranian actor who starred in an Australian film that's critical about life in Iran has been sentenced to a year in prison and ninety lashes. Marzieh Vafamehr appeared in scenes in the movie, which is critical of the Iranian regime of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, minus a hijab.

The use of the lash as punishment has become widespread in Iran. Just two days ago a university student was given seventy-four lashes in the notorious Evin prison for insulting the Iranian president. Imprisoning actors and film directors has also become common, as the repressive regime seeks to stifle all opposition. Pegah Ahangarani, a popular actor was released from jail in July. Director Jafar Pahahi received a six-year prison term and 20-year ban from film-making last year. Mohammad Rasoulof was also sentenced to six years in jail. Ramin Parchami, an actor who voiced support for the opposition, still remains in jail.

In the film about life in modern-day Teheran, called My Teheran for Sale, Vafamehr appears with a shaved head and without a hijab in some scenes. An underground party where men and women dance and drink is disrupted by a group of moral police who arrest some of the partygoers.

The Australian producers of the film, Julie Ryan and Kate Crose, said they were appalled and shocked by Vafamehr's sentence in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Parviz Jahed, an Iranian film critic based in London, said Vafamehr's sentence was a "disgrace" for Iranian officials and a "tragedy" for the country's film industry.

"It is a tragedy for an actress to be lashed and imprisoned solely for playing a role in a film," he told the Guardian newspaper. Jahed described Vafamehr as a "hostage" held by Iranian officials rather than a prisoner.

The Australian government condemned Vafamehr's sentence on Tuesday and said it was "deeply concerned" by it.