LONDON – An Iranian filmmaker says the Islamic Republic banned him from attending the London Film Festival because of the protest motion sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, calling it “a wonderful moment in history. “
“Through the Iranian government, I avoided boarding my flight to London on Friday,” Mani Haghighi said in a video message to festival attendees tweeted through the British Film Institute (BFI).
“I was not given a moderate explanation for this impolite behavior. “
Outrage over Amini’s death on September 16, 3 days after his arrest by Iran’s infamous vice police, has fueled the wave of street protests and violence seen in the country in years.
In response, clerical state security forces carried out a brutal crackdown that claimed the lives of dozens of protesters as a crusade for mass arrests of artists, dissidents, journalists and sports stars.
The BFI said Haghighi will attend the London Film Festival for his new film “Subtraction,” but the Iranian government “confiscated his passport and he may just not leave. “
– Bahman Kalbasi (@BahmanKalbasi) October 14, 2022
“A few weeks ago, I recorded an Instagram video criticizing Iran’s mandatory hijab legislation and the repression of other young people protesting this and many other cases of injustice in their lives. “
“Maybe the government’s idea that by keeping me here, they can keep a closer eye on me, threaten me and silence me. “
“Well, the very fact that I’m talking to you now in this video undermines that plan,” he said.
Haghighi, however, said he was not forced to remain in Iran as a “prisoner” in his own country.
“Let me tell you, being here in Tehran right now is one of the greatest joys of my life. “
“I cannot express in words the joy and honor of being able to witness firsthand this wonderful moment in history and I would be here more than anywhere else at this time. “
“So if it’s a punishment for what I did, then, by all means, do it. “
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