11 Oct 2010 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost, News and features
State censors in Lebanon have asked Beirut International Film Festival not to show an Iranian opposition film during a visit from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Originally scheduled for screening on 13 October, the day of Ahmadinejad’s arrival, the film “Green Days” documents violent protests in Iran following last year’s disputed elections. Director Hana Makhamalbaf is the daughter of Mohsen Makhamalbaf, who is close to opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi.
28 Sep 2010 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
An Iranian news website is reporting that blogger Hossein “Hoder” Derakhshan has been sentenced to more than 19 years in prison. Mashregh News says that he was convicted on charges of cooperating with hostile countries, spreading anti-government propaganda, promotion of counter-revolutionary groups and insulting Islam. Derakhshan has been in prison since 2008. The report says that he can appeal against the sentence.
28 Sep 2010 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
Iranian authorities have revoked the filming permit of an internationally acclaimed director over his support for dissident filmmakers. Asghar Ferhadi, who won the award for best director at the Berlin festival in 2009, called for change at a recent Iranian awards ceremony. He spoke out in favour of actress Golshifteh Farahani, and directors Jafar Panahi, who spent three months in jail, and Mohsen Makhmalbaf, who supports the opposition Green Movement. Deputy Culture Minister Javad Shamaqdari described Ferhadi’s comments as “inappropriate”. He said that the director was given a week to change his remarks.
21 Sep 2010 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
Iran has sentenced a human rights activist, Shiva Nazar Ahari who is the founder of the Committee of Human Rights Reporters in Tehran, to six years in prison on charges of anti-government activities. Her lawyer said she has to pay a $400 fine as an alternative punishment to 74 lashes. n 13 september, Ahari was released from prison on bail of around USD$200,000. She was convicted of moharebeh or “waging war against God” and had received three years for that charge.
