Mohammad Rasoulof Says He Has Left Iran and is in a 'Unknown Location in Europe'

Mohammad Rasoulof, an opposition filmmaker to the Islamic Republic, announced on his Instagram page and in a separate statement that he has left Iran and is currently in an 'unknown location in Europe.' In his statement published in English on Monday, May 13, he protested against a ruling issued by the judiciary against him, explaining that 'a few days ago, he arrived in Europe after a long and complicated journey.' He also emphasized his concern for the safety and health of all those involved in the making of the film 'The Fig Seed of Temples.' This news comes a week after Babak Paknia, a lawyer, announced that judicial authorities had sentenced Rasoulof to eight years in prison, lashes, fines, and confiscation of his property for 'signing statements and making films and documentaries.' The director stated that he learned about a month ago that the appeals court had upheld his eight-year prison sentence, which would be executed swiftly. He recalled that the news of his new film's production would undoubtedly have increased his prison sentence, leaving him little time to decide: 'I had to choose between prison and leaving Iran. With a heavy heart, I chose exile.' He indicated that since his passport had been confiscated by the Islamic Republic seven years ago, he had to leave Iran 'secretly.' In his statement, Rasoulof wrote: 'I strongly protest the recent and unjust ruling that forced me into exile. However, the judiciary of the Islamic Republic has issued so many cruel and bizarre rulings that I do not see myself in a position to complain about the ruling issued against me.' He then referred to the issuance of rulings such as executions and targeting the lives of protesters and human rights activists, mentioning the death sentence of rapper Toumaj Salehi: 'It is unbelievable, but as I write this, the young rapper, Toumaj Salehi, is in prison and sentenced to death.' The protesting director further stated that 'the scope and intensity of repression have reached a point where people expect to hear news of another horrific crime by the Islamic Republic every day, and the machinery of this government's crimes systematically violates human rights.' Before Rasoulof's sentencing, some crew members of the film 'The Fig Seed of Temples' were summoned, and several of them were interrogated. According to Rasoulof, officials tried to convince the crew members to say they were 'unaware of the film's story and were deceived into participating in this project.' This protesting director, in his Instagram post, noted his lack of a passport and travel ban, stating that 'my identity is not in my passport, and if you think the borders of Iran are in your hands, you are dreaming.' He continued addressing the authorities of the Islamic Republic: 'If geographical Iran suffers under the boots of your religious tyranny, cultural Iran lives in the shared minds of millions of Iranians who were forced to leave Iran due to your oppression and savagery, and no power can impose its will on it. From today, I reside in my cultural Iran.' The film 'The Fig Seed of Temples' is about a judge of the Tehran Revolutionary Court who, amid escalating nationwide protests, becomes suspicious and paranoid even towards his wife and young daughters after losing his weapon. Based on the images released from the film, 'The Fig Seed of Temples' is the latest work made inside Iran without adhering to government censorship, including the mandatory hijab for female actors. Rasoulof wrote on his Instagram that he must quickly finalize the last technical post-production stages of 'The Fig Seed of Temples' and thanked all those who helped him with kindness and self-sacrifice, risking themselves to help him cross the border and reach a safe point during his 'difficult and long' journey. On Monday, May 13, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance deemed the making of 'The Fig Seed of Temples' a 'clear violation' and threatened that Mohammad Rasoulof would be dealt with 'according to the law.' 'The Fig Seed of Temples' will compete in the upcoming Cannes Film Festival in the competition section for the Palme d'Or against works by renowned filmmakers such as Francis Ford Coppola, David Cronenberg, Yorgos Lanthimos, and Paolo Sorrentino.