Jafar Panahi Released

  Although the sole film representing Iran in the latest edition of Cannes Film Festival was Abbas Kiarostami’s Certified Copy, what happened to another Iranian director, Ja'far Panahi, became such controversial as to overshadow the whole festival. Javad Shameqdari, deputy minister of culture, who was present in Cannes, talked with its president, Gilles Jacob, on various issues. The text of their negotiations, which was later published by Iran, was refused by Jacob and since no reporter or cameraman attended their meeting, none of the two sides could easily prove what the main subject of their talks had been. Iranian news services reported that Shameqdari had objected to Jacob over Cannes Festival’s reaction to Panahi’s arrest. Panahi was supposed to be a jury member, but could not make it to Cannes as he was in prison and an empty chair carrying his name was put on display at the festival. On the other hand, Kiarostami and Juliette Binoche protested to imprisonment of Panahi in press conference on Certified Copy and Binoche even wept in front of television cameras. In a trip to Iran four years ago, Binoche had met Panahi, who is a friend of Kiarostami. Protests gradually intensified with Mohsen Makhmalbaf and Bahman Qobadi (both winners of Cannes’ Camera d’Or) expressed concern over his situation. Makhmalbaf and Qobadi are currently living in Europe as their anti-government political positions following last year’s presidential polls has practically made their work in Iran impossible. When Shameqdari returned, news circulated about imminent release of Panahi and he was actually freed on bail three days later. He had been nabbed at his home three months earlier along with his guests (including Mohammad Rasoulov). The guests were gradually released, but he remained behind bars charged with “acting against national security” though his charges were never heard at court. During his imprisonment many famous cinema figures from across the world called for his release. Panahi who spent part of his imprisonment in hunger strike is now with his family.