Image Credit: Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty ImagesHollywood peers of imprisoned Iranian filmmakers, Jafar Panahi (left) and Mohammad Rasoulof, rallied to their defense after they were sentenced to six years in prison. Yesterday, Martin Scorsese released a statement of support, saying, “I was shocked and disheartened by the news of Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof’s conviction and sentencing. It’s depressing to imagine a society with so little faith in its own citizens that it feels compelled to lock up anyone with a contrary opinion. As filmmakers, we all need to stand up for Panahi and Rasoulof. We should applaud their courage and campaign aggressively for their immediate release.”
Taylor Hackford, president of the Directors Guild of America, also spoke out, saying, “We are outraged by this attempt to lock away and silence Mr. Panahi, a world-renowned filmmaker, along with his fellow filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof who was similarly sentenced. We understand full well how crucial creative freedom is to liberty, art, culture and human rights, and we oppose any attempt to suppress the rights of artists to engage in creative expression. We stand together with the world’s film community to protest this illegal action. We urge the Iranian government to rescind its misguided decision and free Mr. Panahi and Mr. Rasoulof.”
Panahi, who made such award-winning films as The White Balloon (1995) and The Circle (2000), had supported the political opposition and was arrested in March for making a film without government permission and inciting political protests. Rasoulef has directed such films as Iron Island (2005).
Read more:
Iranian director sentenced to 6 years
Iran releases filmmaker Jafar Panahi from prison
Jafar Panahi: A terrific filmmaker is in prison, not at Cannes where he belongs
I wonder if this would have made it onto EW.com if Scorsese hadn’t commented on it.
It already had:
http://news-briefs.ew.com/2010/12/20/jafar-panahi-iran-director-sentenced/
AGAIN!? They really don’t want to let this guy go.
Terrible news and DateATallGuy was amazing
“It’s depressing to imagine a society with so little faith in its own citizens”
How do you know that Martin? , Have you lived in Iran that you say such strong opinion about this country?
40 million people voted for last year election and you call the government a dictatorial regime.
40 million means 80% of people over 18 in Iran, and I have to say this never happened anywhere in the planet.
“We should applaud their courage and campaign aggressively for their immediate release.”
What you should do is to campaign aggressively for immediate return of US troops from Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan and then other problem in US.
Freedom of speech in US!!!
As far as I know if any form of news, movie or clip publish against the holocaust or 9/11 the government will react brutally.
And Right now there is huge a protest in Paris and London against the government and where is media right now? Where is freedom of speech?
I don’t know what country you live in David, but in my country i.e. the U.S of A, people have a freedom of speech exits. This means people CAN publish news, movies, or clips that support the Holocaust or 9/11. I obviously don’t agree with them, but they can say whatever the hell they want as long as they don’t act on those beliefs.
P.S. I just reread your comment and I might be misinterpreting what you wrote because of your bad grammar (no offense). So if I did misinterpret, I apologize for this comment.
Sorry, my first sentence was supposed to say this: I don’t know what country you live in David, but in my country, i.e. the US of A, freedom of speech exists.
The elections are corrupt, everyone knows that david, Adminejad is corrupt(still refuses to recognize the holcocaust even occuring)and he knows that david because these filmmakers have been sentenced to SIX years in prison for making a film without govt approval and voicing an opinion that is not shared by the iranian govt.