Mohammad Rasoulof Says He Left Iran on Foot via a 'Very Dangerous' Route

Mohammad Rasoulof, the renowned Iranian director, in an exclusive interview with The Guardian, stated that before leaving Iran, he disposed of all his traceable electronic devices and crossed the mountainous border on foot via a 'secret' route. He described the journey as 'very dangerous,' lasting several hours, and required him to travel with a guide. This filmmaker, who opposes the Islamic Republic, reached Germany to escape his 'definitive' prison sentence and expressed hope to attend the Cannes Film Festival next week for a film that nearly led him to an eight-year prison term. Rasoulof mentioned that he has left Iran and is currently in an 'unknown location in Europe.' He also expressed hope to return to his homeland 'soon' and resolve his conviction issues. The independent filmmaker emphasized that his duty is to convey the narratives of what is happening in Iran and the situation that Iranians are trapped in, which he cannot do from prison. His latest work, set to premiere on May 24 in Cannes, tells the story of an investigating judge grappling with paranoia amid political unrest in Tehran. Following the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police, which sparked nationwide protests in 2022, Rasoulof focused on individuals who suppress the people, knowing that he would likely face a harsher sentence in response to this. Rasoulof has been sentenced to '8 years in prison.' His lawyer, Babak Paknia, informed The Guardian via email that judicial authorities accused Rasoulof of making films without permission and of charges such as the failure to enforce mandatory hijab by female actors and filming them without hijab. According to Paknia, the final ruling, which includes imprisonment, fines, confiscation of property, and lashes due to wine bottles discovered by police during a raid on his apartment, is the harshest sentence ever issued against this director in Iran. Rasoulof stated that while in prison, he wrote many screenplays and always felt that if he spent years in prison, he would not have the power or ability to make these films. He noted, 'So first I must make them, and after that, there is always time for returning and going to prison.' Rasoulof was arrested in July 2022 after signing a statement titled 'Put Down Your Gun,' which was signed by several artists and activists in response to the suppression of protests following the collapse of the Metropol building in Abadan. His transfer to prison was under the guise of enforcing a one-year sentence previously issued against him. He was released from prison after about seven months in February 2023.