Ministry of Culture Spokesman: Suspension of 'Resurrection' Screening Not Related to Street Protests

According to the spokesman of the Islamic Republic's Ministry of Culture, the suspension of the screening of the film 'Resurrection' was solely due to 'respect for the opinions of scholars and authorities' and is not related to the street protests that occurred regarding it. As reported by the state news agency IRNA, Hossein Nosh-abadi, the spokesman for the Ministry of Culture, announced on Thursday evening, July 25, during a meeting in Zanjan, that the ministry had halted the screening of the film 'Resurrection' due to some concerns about it. Mr. Nosh-abadi stated that the concerns of Shia clerics had led to the reduction of the three-hour film, which took ten years and significant investment to produce, to two hours and 20 minutes. The parliamentary deputy of the Minister of Culture further commented on the criticisms surrounding this film, stating: 'The most criticized aspect of this film was the depiction of the face of Hazrat Abbas, and in response to this criticism, it should be noted that there is no prohibition on showing the faces of anyone other than the infallible Imams.' The spokesman for the Ministry of Culture added: 'In part of the film that has been distorted, the issue of solo singing by women is raised, and all experts agree that such a scene and event did not occur in Karbala.' Mr. Nosh-abadi also mentioned regarding the suspension of 'Resurrection' that 'the screening of the film has been halted for review by the grand clerics and to receive their opinions, but this does not mean it is out of the screening circuit.' Meanwhile, on July 24, Hossein Nosh-abadi stated in an interview with the Iranian Labor News Agency, ILNA, regarding the suspension of the screening of the film 'Resurrection' that 'the decision to postpone the screening of the film is solely out of respect for the opinions of the scholars and is not related to street protests.' Over the past week, on two occasions, a number of opponents of the screening of this film gathered in front of the Ministry of Culture and demanded that the film by Ahmadreza Darvish not be screened. Additionally, on Thursday, some opponents of the screening of this film gathered in Mashhad to protest certain issues raised in this work and called for its permanent suspension. The feature film 'Resurrection,' directed by Ahmadreza Darvish, which is about the uprising on Ashura, was pulled from the screen on Wednesday, July 24, shortly after its screening began. Some opponents of this film's screening clashed with the cinema staff in front of the Shokufe cinema in Tehran, demanding the burning of copies of this film. Ahmadreza Darvish also stated after the suspension of his film's screening that he had received approval from the clerics for the making of this film and that it was produced in accordance with their opinions.