The Body of Abbas Kiarostami Laid to Rest

The funeral ceremony for Abbas Kiarostami, the renowned filmmaker, was held on Sunday, July 20, in front of the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults in Tehran, attended by a large number of filmmakers and admirers of Kiarostami. Parviz Parastui, a cinema actor, was the host of the ceremony, and Hojjatollah Ayubi, the Deputy Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, along with several filmmakers and artists spoke about Mr. Kiarostami. According to ILNA news agency, Asghar Farhadi, an Iranian filmmaker, expressed gratitude to Kiarostami for restoring the name of this land to a respected and pleasant one in the world, stating, "Thank you for not turning your back on this soil despite all the neglect, ingratitude, and obstacles from political elites." His remarks were met with applause from the audience and have been shared widely on social media. Daryush Shayegan, a writer and philosopher, also remarked that Kiarostami did not need to accumulate information and reminded him of Leonardo da Vinci, who claimed to be free from reading and discovered the world through experience. Kiarostami, he noted, sought the essence of truth behind appearances and saw the world with the eyes of the heart. Other artists, including Masoud Kimiai, Ebrahim Forouzesh, Ebrahim Haghighi, and Seyfollah Samadian, also spoke at the ceremony, while Aydin Aghdashloo, a painter and graphic artist, sent an audio file for the event. Reports indicated that the crowd was so large that the streets of Hojjat and Vasal were completely blocked. Additionally, while many were waiting for Kiarostami's body to exit the Institute, it was taken out through another door. Abbas Kiarostami was buried in the "Took Mazraeh" cemetery in Lavasan. Kiarostami passed away at the age of 76 in Paris on July 14 after his illness worsened while seeking treatment in France. In recent days, reports have surfaced regarding potential "medical negligence" during the treatment of this Iranian filmmaker, leading to a campaign on Facebook about medical errors. Consequently, the Minister of Health requested the head of the Medical System Organization to thoroughly, quickly, and transparently investigate and report on Kiarostami's medical file in Tehran and Paris. Alireza Zali, the head of the Medical System Organization, also wrote to the head of the French Medical System, seeking bilateral cooperation to clarify the reasons for the death of this renowned Iranian filmmaker. Abbas Kiarostami was the creator of films such as "Taste of Cherry," "Report," "Where Is the Friend's Home?" "Homework," "The Wind Will Carry Us," "Life, and Nothing More," "Close-Up," and "Through the Olive Trees," which have won numerous awards at international festivals.