Jafar Panahian Iranian dissident director, one of the best known in the world and who has been in prison in Iran for months, has begun a hunger strike.
This was announced by Iran international, citing a message shared on Instagram by the filmmaker’s wife Tahereh Saeedi and the son of the filmmaker who wrote: “I refuse to drink and eat any food and medicine until I am released. I will remain in this state until until my lifeless body comes out of prison.” The news goes viral.
Winner of the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 2000 for the film The circlethe director was arrested in July last year, in Tehran, while participating in protests demanding the release of two colleagues, Mohamad Rasoulof And Mustafa al-Ahmad. Still in prison despite Iran’s Supreme Court overturning the conviction that led to his detention. was written in protest against the “illegal and inhumane” treatment by the Islamic Republic’s judiciary and security forces and their “hostage taking”. The actress Taraneh Alidoosti was luckier than him, thanks to a very high bail.
Winner of the Screenplay Award at Cannes in 2018 for Three facesthree years after winning theGolden Bear in Berlin for Taxi Tehran. The world famous filmmaker has been arrested several times in the past due to his artistic activity.
In his latest interesting feature film Bears don’t exist presented last Venice Film Festival, Panahi plays himself on a journey of knowledge al Iranian border where between superstition and the desire to escape, it “documents” the life of the inhabitants of a small village and that of an unfortunate couple in love. The film won the special jury prizebut Panahi was unable to participate in the event due to detention and for this he received the full support of the world of cinema as well as the Fellini Award for cinematic excellence from the Bif&st 2023, Bari Film Festival.
Hundreds of dissidents, intellectuals and artists are held in the Evin prison in Tehran, considered among the most feared in Iran. According to Variety the regime “banned more than 100 members of the Iranian film industry from making films”, “we filmmakers who increasingly become the voice of the Iranian people currently deprived of an opposition in power”the director said recently Moshen Makhmalbaf.
For the protests that have already been going on for five months, the judicial authorities arrested 18,000 demonstrators. The prison is under close observation by human rights NGOs, one above all Amnesty International for reports of serious human rights violations such as torture and abuse. It caught fire last October, causing enormous concern for the fate of the prisoners. A voice reached Rainews.it a few days ago he confirmed the dramatic situation suffered by the prisoners. This makes Panahi’s request all the more urgent.
