Renowned Iranian director escapes to Europe following imprisonment and lashing punishment
Filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof lashed out at the Iranian government in an Instagram post on Monday, labeling it as a tyrannical and unfair regime. He also shared footage of himself crossing the nation's mountainous border, declaring that the cultural realm of the country is thriving in the minds of millions of Iranians who were displaced due to the regime's cruelty.
"If the geographical Iran experiences the pressures of your religious dictatorship, the cultural Iran thrives in the hearts and minds of millions of Iranians who were forced to flee your brutality. From now on, I am a citizen of cultural Iran," Rasoulof declared.
On May 12, Rasoulof revealed that he made the decision to leave Iran after being notified by his lawyers that his prison sentence would be carried out imminently.
"I had to choose between imprisonment and exile. With a heavy heart, I chose to leave Iran," he said in a statement provided by a representative.
Rasoulof's lawyer, Babak Paknia, had disclosed last week that an Iranian court had sentenced Rasoulof to 8 years in prison and flogging for his films and documentaries, which the court considered as "examples of collusion to commit a crime against the security of the country."
Rasoulof's case is one of several instances wherein high-profile artists have been targeted by Iranian authorities in their recent crackdown on dissent. The crackdown intensified after widespread protests erupted across Iran over the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini. Amini was arrested for allegedly wearing her headscarf improperly and later died in custody.
Rasoulof, whose recent works have been openly critical of the Iranian government, joined a group of artists and filmmakers in signing a letter demanding an end to the excessive use of force by security forces during a 2022 protest in Abadan over a building collapse that resulted in over 40 deaths.
Rasoulof's recognition at film festivals includes a Golden Bear for best film at the Berlinale festival in 2020 for "There Is No Evil" and a "Certain Regard" honor at the Cannes Film Festival in France in 2017 for "A Man of Integrity."
Rasoulof's current project, "The Seed of the Sacred Fig," is scheduled for a premiere at Cannes next week, but it's unclear if he will be present for the event.
"We are overjoyed and extremely relieved that Mohammad has reached Europe safely after a perilous journey," said Jean-Christophe Simon, the distributor for Rasoulof's new film.
The Films Boutique and Parallel45 executive expressed hope for Rasoulof's attendance at the Cannes premiere despite the government's efforts to prevent it.
Rasoulof expressed his thoughts for the individuals who aided in the production of his latest film, expressing concern for their safety and well-being, and accusing the Iranian government of applying interrogations, court filings and travel restrictions to put pressure on his team.
Rasoulof remained evasive about how he escaped Iran, simply stating that he did so with the aid of friends and acquaintances.
Previously, Rasoulof faced a year-long prison sentence and a two-year ban on filmmaking due to his work, as reported by Human Rights Watch. Iranian authorities have previously detained and confiscated his passport several times.
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Rasoulof's films and documentaries, criticizing the Iranian government, led to an 8-year prison sentence and flogging in the Middle East. With safety as his priority, Rasoulof decided to seek asylum in Europe, joining the vast diaspora of Iranians who have left due to the regime's repressive policies.
Source: edition.cnn.com
