Iranian Filmmaker Tahmineh Milani faces execution if convicted in her trial in Tehran. Milani was arrested on the orders of Iran's Revolutionary Council as she was promoting the film The Hidden Half, which she wrote and directed.

The Hidden Half depicts internal struggle within Iran soon after the 1979 Islamic revolution. Milani has been charged with misusing the arts in support of counter-revolutionary and armed opposition groups. The Revolutionary Council has previously ordered the arrest of journalists and other cultural figures, but this is the first time it has taken direct action against a filmmaker.

One of Iran's best-known filmmakers, as well as The Hidden Half (2001) Milani has written and directed films including The Legend of a Sigh (1991), What Else is New? (1992) and Two Women (1999). She is well-known for taking strong feminist stands in her films and at her public appearances.

Like all domestically produced Iranian films, The Hidden Half went through intense censorship processes. It was then approved by the ministry of culture and released to theatres. She was arrested after that.

On October 26, a declaration of solidarity with Milani was released, signed by dozens of filmmakers from around the world, including eminent directors Jamsheed Akrami, Hisham Bizri, John Boorman, Francis Ford Coppola, Jonathan Demme, Carlos Diegues, Ali Kazimi, Hanif Kureishi, Ang Lee, Spike Lee, Lucrecia Martel, Raoul Peck, Martin Scorsese, Steven Soderbergh and Oliver Stone. Many other directors, producers, actors from across the Middle East, North America, Asia, Europe, and South America have signed.

The declaration has been sent to Ayatollah Khamenei, the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran; Mohammad Khatami, president of Iran; Mahmoud Hashemi Shahrudi, the head of the judiciary; Masjed Jamee, the minister of culture; and many other dignitaries and interested parties.

Filmmakers, organisations and individuals who would like to express their solidarity with Milani are invited to send faxes demanding that the charges against her be dropped to: His Excellency Mohammad Khatami, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, at +98 21 649 5880; His Excellency Mahmoud Hashemi Shahrudi, Minister of Justice, at +98 21 646 5242; and His Excellency Masjed Jamee, Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, +98 21 391 3535.

Sign the petition at <http://www.facets.org/petition.html>.

From Green Left Weekly, November 14, 2001.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

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