An Iranian-Canadian director says he was unable to attend a film festival in London Friday as Iranian authorities prevented his departure.
Director Mani Haghighi said in an Instagram video he couldnB次元官网网址檛 be at the screening of his film at the London Film Festival because Iranian authorities stopped him from boarding his flight in Tehran and later confiscated his passport.
The British Film Institute said in a statement that Haghighi was due to present his film B次元官网网址淪ubtraction,B次元官网网址� which debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival last month.
While promoting the film, Haghighi told Variety his Iranian-Canadian identity was important to him. Haghighi attended school in Ontario and Quebec, and he told the entertainment publication he still has close friends in Canada.
Canadian music critic, Carl Wilson said he went to McGill University with Haghighi in the late 1980s and has been friends with the director ever since, even providing editorial help on some English subtitles for B次元官网网址淪ubtractionB次元官网网址�.
Haghighi later went to study in Ontario, and became a Canadian citizen in the 1990s said Wilson.
In his video message, Haghighi said he was given no reasonable explanation by authorities for the confiscation of his passport.
Two weeks earlier, Haghighi posted a video criticizing IranB次元官网网址檚 mandatory hijab law and recent crackdown on youth protesters.
Public anger in Iran has coalesced around last monthB次元官网网址檚 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who had been detained by the countryB次元官网网址檚 morality police, an advocacy group said. AminiB次元官网网址檚 death has led to a series of demonstrations against the government, some in which girls and women remove their mandatory head scarves on the street in a show of solidarity.
As the movement entered its fifth week, at least 233 protesters have been killed 鈦燘次元官网网址� 32 among the dead were below the age of 18, according to U.S.-based rights monitor HRANA.
Haghighi said that he believes authorities have kept him in Tehran to watch over him and to prevent the director from speaking out.
B次元官网网址淭he very fact that I am talking to you in this video right now undermines that plan,B次元官网网址� said Haghighi.
Despite the inability to attend the festival in London or leave Iran, Haghighi said in a video that he is honoured to bear witness to history in Iran, and that he would rather be in Tehran than anywhere else in the world.
B次元官网网址淏eing here in Tehran right now, is one of the greatest joys of my life,B次元官网网址� said Haghighi in a video. B次元官网网址淚f this is a punishment for what IB次元官网网址檝e done, then by all means, bring it on.B次元官网网址�
The London Film Festival said it supports Haghighi and all filmmakers in their freedom to present their films around the world.
Global Affairs Canada said itB次元官网网址檚 aware B次元官网网址渙f reports of a Canadian citizen in IranB次元官网网址� and that officials were ready to provide consular assistance, but would not disclose any more information citing privacy concerns.
Spokesperson Patricia Skinner also said in an emailed statement Canadian citizens should avoid all travel to Iran due to the volatile security situation.
Canada stands in solidarity with women and other protesters in Iran and calls on the Iranian regime to listen to the concerns of its citizens and protect their right to peaceful protest, Skinner said.
Haghighi could not be reached for comment.
Caitlin Yardley, The Canadian Press
Like us on and follow us on .
