Around 100 Iranian Filmmakers Call on Military to Put Down Their Weapons

Approximately 100 Iranian filmmakers issued a statement on Sunday, June 8th, calling on the military of the Islamic Republic to put down their weapons and end the suppression of Iran’s protesting citizens.

The signatories of this statement, referring to the fact that “the thunderous voice of oppressed people from across Iran has called for solidarity with the suffering people of Aban,” stated: “Now that public anger over corruption, theft, ineffectiveness of repression and suffocation has resulted in waves of united public protests, we call upon all individuals in military units who have become instruments of people’s suppression to put down their weapons and return to the embrace of the nation.”

Among the signatories of this statement are Mahnaz Afsari, Majid Barzegar, Jafar Panahi, Leila Hatami, Poran Derakhshande, Abul Hasan Davudi, Mohammad Rasoulof, and Katayoun Riahi, Mona Zandi, Saman Salur, Ali Mosafa, and Tahmineh Milani.

The recent statement by Iranian filmmakers refers to the collapse of the Metropol Tower in Abadan, which triggered widespread protests in the city and several other cities in Iran.

In recent years, Iranian artists and celebrities have faced considerable criticism for their silence regarding the government’s repressive policies, and in some cases have been accused of complicity with the Islamic Republic or self-interest, particularly the silence of Iranian filmmakers at international events such as the Cannes Film Festival, which recently concluded.

However, at the 75th Cannes Film Festival, which ended Saturday night, Zar Amir-Ebrahimi, the Iranian actress of the film “Holy Spider” directed by Ali Abbasi, expressed solidarity with the people of Abadan after winning the Best Actress award at the festival.

Saeid Roustai, an Iranian director whose film “Leila’s Brothers” was featured in the main competition section of this year’s film event, also dedicated his prestigious “Fipresci” prize to express solidarity and support for the people of Abadan after receiving the award.

The Iranian Writers’ Association also issued a statement on June 7th, accusing the Islamic Republic government of “concealing facts and spreading false news” regarding the Metropol Tower collapse disaster, and emphasized that “news and images that pass through the censorship barrier from hand to hand among the people reveal the horrific dimensions of this destruction.”

In the Abadan Metropol Tower collapse incident, 29 deaths have been reported so far, and the Khuzestan Governor stated on Sunday that, according to family reports, 38 people who were present at the time of the building’s collapse remain missing.

Beyond Abadan, Dezful, and Rey, where reports of protest gatherings had previously been announced, a group of people also gathered in Andimeshk on the evening of June 7th and chanted slogans against the government.

Based on videos by citizens on social media, the suppression of protests in Abadan and some other cities has been accompanied by violence, and in several videos and images, riot police units can be seen pursuing protesters and throwing stones at demonstrators.

Even in official reports, it was noted that riot police units fired tear gas and rubber pellets at some protesters, while reports also emerged of several protesting citizens being injured and some being arrested.

Following the spread of popular reports about the extensive presence of riot police units in Abadan after the Metropol Tower collapse to suppress protests, one police commander claimed that the reason for deploying these units was to “assist the affected people.”

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in major cities of Khuzestan, including Abadan, Ahvaz, and Khorramshahr, continues to be described as restricted, and some citizens have reported the deployment of riot police units and mobile internet cuts since Saturday evening.

Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, sent condolences on the fourth day after the Metropol Tower collapse, and the government of Ebrahim Raisi announced five days after the incident that it had decided to declare June 8th as a national day of mourning.

In some videos released from the evening of June 7th, protesters chanted “Khamenei is a murderer, his rule is void” and “Commander-in-Chief, resign, resign.”

In the Abadan Metropol Tower collapse incident, some Islamic Republic officials have also acknowledged that extensive corruption occurred during the construction of the tower between the building’s owner and the municipality and some officials.

Hosein Abdolbaqi, the builder and owner of the Metropol Tower whom Islamic Republic officials say was killed under the rubble, has been accused of, with the green light from city officials and in collusion with authorities, carrying out construction outside legal regulations.

In recent days and nights, the cities of Shahinshahr in Isfahan, Mahshahr, Bushehr, Bandar Abbas, and Behbahan have also witnessed protest gatherings with people chanting anti-government slogans.

Source: Radio Farda