Iranian authorities have banned film director Masud Kimiai from leaving the country, according to an Iranian newspaper, with no statement from the authorities and no known reasons for the decision.

According to reports in the daily ‘Hamshahri’, Kimiai was preparing to attend the Rotterdam Film Festival for the screening of his film ‘Betrayal’.

The Independent Film Directors Association of Iran has stated that “Masud Kimiai, a well-known film director, has not been allowed to leave the country, without Kimiai himself commenting on the situation.

The 81-year-old director, who has directed nearly 20 films, recently said he “stands by the people” amid protests that erupted in September over the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish-Iranian woman detained in Tehran for allegedly wearing the veil incorrectly.

Source » msn