Lights, Camera ... No Action for Detained Iranian Filmmakers

Don't expect to see Jafar Panahi during this week's Cannes Film Festival in France. Sure, the Iranian filmmaker is world renowned for his artistic vision, and thought to be one of the best filmmakers in the entire world. And yes, Panahi was even selected to be one of the jurors at this year's Cannes Film Festival, an honor bestowed upon an elite few in the film industry.

So what's the problem? The problem is that since March 1, Panahi has been detained by Iranian authorities in the infamous Evin prison. That's a prison in Tehran, and likely one of the few in the world with a dedicated "political prisoners' wing." Evin prison is also the place where numerous members of the Bahá'í faith in Iran have been detained, as well as several Christian leaders within the country. Foreign journalists also have been known to be kept there, and it's a prison where public executions (in the form of hanging) routinely take place.

So what did Panahi do to earn himself a cell in Evin prison?

He's being accused by government authorities of making a film "against the regime following the post-election events" last year. On March 1, Panahi's house was bombarded by law enforcement officers, who rounded up Panahi, his wife, his daughter, and 15 house guests. Everyone else has been released; Panahi, of course, has not.

That's leading Amnesty International to identity Panahi as yet another prisoner of conscience within Iran, someone thrown in jail merely for saying, doing, or covering something that might be deemed critical of the Iranian regime.

Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa deputy director, noted that Panahi deserved to be released immediately.

"An empty chair at the Cannes Film Festival, set aside for Ja'far Panahi, will highlight the folly and injustice of Iran's crackdown on those who have peacefully criticized the government in the wake of last June's election," Sahraoui said. "Ja'far Panahi's work has garnered respect and plaudits internationally, yet in Iran he languishes in jail."

Panahi isn't the only filmmaker to be detained in prison, either. Mohammad Ali Shirzadi is also languishing in Evin prison, following an incident where Shirzadi filmed an interview between a human rights defender and a dissenting cleric. Apparently holding a camera can also be deemed a violation by the Iranian state.

Somewhat ironic, of course, given that Iran is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which provides for the right of freedom of expression for citizens. Perhaps someone might want to send a few Merriam Websters over to Tehran, so that they can verify the definition of what that means.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International is urging folks to head on over here and learn more about both filmmakers. If you click, you'll be joining Robert DeNiro, Stephen Spielberg, Robert Redford, Martin Scorsese and a host of Hollywood's elite in demanding that these two filmmakers be set free.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons