By Jason Apuzzo. Unhappy tidings as we approach Christmas:
• Director Jafar Panahi has been sentenced in Iran to 6 years in prison, and a 20 year ban on filmmaking or traveling abroad.
• Muslim actress Afshan Azad, a 22 year old UK star of the many Harry Potter films, was beaten and threatened with death by her family after she met a young man who was not a Muslim.
• One of the recently leaked WikiLeaks cables reveals that diplomats from 14 Arab states voted to ban Steven Spielberg’s films in response to his $1 million donation to Israel during Israel’s 2006 confrontation with Lebanon. (As a side note, the Arab League also apparently didn’t like the depiction of Arabs in Raiders of the Lost Ark.)
I’m pressed for time, and would otherwise like to say more about all this, but let me confine my remarks to these: that it is axiomatic, in my opinion, that there will be no peace in certain parts of this world until there is also freedom. In a time of year when thoughts of peace are on everyone’s minds, and justly so, we should never forget that freedom is the vital force that nurtures peace.
Final note: on the Panahi front, here is his Facebook page, and here is an on-line petition demanding the lifting of his sentence.
Posted on December 21st, 2010 at 2:28pm.
Sorry, but the Nazi’s used Arabs — Muslims in particular — they way they did in “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” And they were all too willing to help the Nazis.
My heart goes out to ALL women abused in Islam — I just wish Afshtan’s story was given the attention it deserves.
Good job on short time, Jason. It’s work like this that’s separating Libertas from the pack.
Thanks for your comments, Vince, I really appreciate it. Frankly, I’d prefer never having to post on this kind of stuff, but events don’t always allow that …
Panahi’s Crimson Gold was amazing, a stunning vision of the madness of modern day Tehran.
… which is no doubt one of the reasons he’s in this position, alas.