Oscar-winning Iranian director ‘salutes’ protesters

By AFP

Marrakesh (Morocco): Acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi on Friday praised the “courage” of Iranian protesters, telling AFP he “salutes” the continued requires political change in his homeland.

Iran has been gripped by a wave of protests sparked by the loss of life in mid-September of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, after her arrest by the nation’s morality police for allegedly breaching the strict costume code for ladies.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Marrakech International Film Festival, underway in Morocco, the two-time Academy Award winner mentioned he’s “following very closely” the occasions unfolding in his homeland.

“I want to take this opportunity to salute my people, the new generation, the women and men who have taken to the streets and who are trying to take their destiny into their own hands,” he mentioned.

The protests have been met by a harsh crackdown, with Oslo-based monitor Iran Human Rights saying 342 folks, together with 43 youngsters, have up to now been killed by safety forces.

Iran’s authorities should date condemned 5 folks to loss of life over the demonstrations.

Iran faces an “extremely decisive moment”, Farhadi mentioned, and “will no longer be the same country” after the present protest motion.

“The question is, how will these movements and protests end? And will the unity that is necessary among Iranians, for the country to move forward, be maintained?” he mentioned.

The 50-year-old director has received a number of cinema’s most prestigious awards, together with the 2012 and 2017 Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.

Farhadi had beforehand voiced his assist for the protests, calling in late September for folks all over the world to “stand in solidarity” with the protesters.

“They are looking for simple yet fundamental rights that the state has denied them for years,” Farhadi mentioned on the time, in a video message on Instagram.

Marrakesh (Morocco): Acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi on Friday praised the “courage” of Iranian protesters, telling AFP he “salutes” the continued requires political change in his homeland.

Iran has been gripped by a wave of protests sparked by the loss of life in mid-September of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, after her arrest by the nation’s morality police for allegedly breaching the strict costume code for ladies.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Marrakech International Film Festival, underway in Morocco, the two-time Academy Award winner mentioned he’s “following very closely” the occasions unfolding in his homeland.

“I want to take this opportunity to salute my people, the new generation, the women and men who have taken to the streets and who are trying to take their destiny into their own hands,” he mentioned.

The protests have been met by a harsh crackdown, with Oslo-based monitor Iran Human Rights saying 342 folks, together with 43 youngsters, have up to now been killed by safety forces.

Iran’s authorities should date condemned 5 folks to loss of life over the demonstrations.

Iran faces an “extremely decisive moment”, Farhadi mentioned, and “will no longer be the same country” after the present protest motion.

“The question is, how will these movements and protests end? And will the unity that is necessary among Iranians, for the country to move forward, be maintained?” he mentioned.

The 50-year-old director has received a number of cinema’s most prestigious awards, together with the 2012 and 2017 Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.

Farhadi had beforehand voiced his assist for the protests, calling in late September for folks all over the world to “stand in solidarity” with the protesters.

“They are looking for simple yet fundamental rights that the state has denied them for years,” Farhadi mentioned on the time, in a video message on Instagram.