Mohammad Rasoulof Summoned to the Culture and Media Court After Passport Seizure

Mohammad Rasoulof, an Iranian filmmaker, had his passport seized upon entering Iran at the airport. The producer of Rasoulof's latest film reported to Radio Farda that the director has been summoned to the Culture and Media Court. Kaveh Farnam, the producer of the film 'Lord' directed by Rasoulof, confirmed on Saturday that Rasoulof's passport was confiscated at the airport upon his return to Iran. Farnam stated that it is unclear to Rasoulof and his associates why the filmmaker's passport was seized. He also mentioned that a summons had been sent to Rasoulof by the Culture and Media Court. The film 'Lord,' a joint production between Iran and the Czech Republic, depicts Iranian society facing corruption, repression, and the consequences of protests against the results of the 2009 elections. This film won the Best Film award in the 'Un Certain Regard' section at the Cannes Film Festival this June. The theme and narrative of 'Lord,' like Rasoulof's other works, are critical and incisive, showcasing some corrupt practices in Iranian administrative affairs. The film also makes implicit references to the living conditions of Baha'is in Iran for the first time. According to the joint producer of 'Lord,' the film was produced after going through legal processes, raising questions about the reason behind the recent passport seizure. Rasoulof was first arrested in 2009 alongside Jafar Panahi and was later released on bail. Security forces stopped him again after the screening of his film 'Manuscripts Don't Burn' at the airport, confiscating his personal belongings and passport. Farnam noted that these issues had been resolved previously, but it is now uncertain whether the recent events are related to the film 'Lord' or past incidents. After the successful screening of 'Lord' at Cannes, Rasoulof returned to Iran twice without problems. Farnam emphasized that there should be no issues with 'Lord'; they had legal permission to produce it, submitted it to the Fajr Film Festival, and made several attempts to obtain permission for its screening in Iran. Although the main reason for the seizure of Rasoulof's passport remains unclear, those involved in his new film are concerned that the lack of passport delivery may prevent him from attending international festivals and screenings. Farnam told Radio Farda that 'without exaggeration, we may need to attend 30 international festivals by the end of this year, and Rasoulof's absence would raise questions.' Rasoulof's name is among the 774 individuals invited this year for membership in the Academy Awards. He is considered one of the protesting filmmakers in recent years in Iran, having experienced arrests and summons to security agencies. Several of his previous films, including 'Goodbye' and 'Manuscripts Don't Burn,' were not publicly screened in Iran despite being shown at international festivals, including Cannes. His latest work 'Lord' has also not been publicly screened in Iran, and Fajr Film Festival officials refrained from showing it in the last edition of the event.