The Iranian film, The Salesman, won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film. The director, Asghar Farhadi, declined to attend the event, and had a spokeswoman read from a prepared statement. Farhadi stated he was boycotting the event in solidarity with the seven Muslim nations (including Iran) affected by Trump’s travel ban.
“I’m sorry I’m not with you tonight. My absence is out of respect for the people in my country and those in other six countries who have been disrespected by the inhumane law that bans entry of immigrants to the U.S.. Dividing the world into us and our enemies categories create fear, a deceitful justification for aggression and war. These wars prevent democracy and human rights in countries who themselves have been victims of aggression. Filmmakers can turn their cameras to capture shared human qualities and break stereotypes of various nationalities and religions. They create empathy between us and others, an empathy we need more today than ever.”
Iran director Asghar Farhadi wins his second #Oscars for best foreign film The Salesman but is not there to receive it due to #MuslimBan. pic.twitter.com/xpdcvq018g
— Negar نگار (@NegarMortazavi) February 27, 2017
This was Farhadi’s second Oscar. He has been an outspoken critic of Trump and his ban on immigration from Muslim countries and announced he would be boycotting the Oscars ahead of time.
Farhadi had two Iranian American women involved in space exploration represent him and read his statement.
