Iranian Director Asghar Farhadi Condemns Trump’s Refugee Ban in Powerful Oscars Speech

It was a sign of solidarity among the cinema community in protest against the unfair executive order by Trump which banned residents of seven majority-Muslim countries to enter the United States and indicated their support of Farhadi, 44, who boycotted the Oscars in a snub to the decision. “When the revolution came to Iran, they were anti-intellectual – I’m sorry to say that I’m seeing bit of that now in the U.S.”.

His statement slammed the travel ban, labelling it “inhumane” and disrespectful not only to his home country, but the six other nations affected.

Farhadi’s statement earned a huge round of applause from the stars in the Dolby Theatre, as well as on social media.

Dividing the world into the us and our enemies categories creates fear.

Mr. Trump’s victory has prompted concern among many in Iran, particularly in the wake of a 2015 nuclear deal with the US and other world powers that led to the lifting of crippling economic sanctions.

Iran’s government-owned English-language network Press TV on its website covered the news of the Oscar win. For this reason, we dedicate this award to all the people, artists, journalists and activists who are working to foster unity and understanding, and who uphold freedom of expression and human dignity – values whose protection is now more important than ever.

Asghar Farhadi’s film was given its United Kingdom premiere in the central London Square and received the backing of mayor Sadiq Khan as well as actors including Keira Knightley, Dominic West and Lily Cole.

Sony Picture Classics previously distributed Farhadi’s “A Separation”, which won the 2012 Oscar for best foreign language film.

Ansari was joined by Iranian-American Firouz Naderi, who is a former Nasa director, on the stage.

Donald Trump once again found his way into Sunday’s show when Iran won the award for The Salesman – and the director didn’t show up to collect the award. However, after President Trump signed an executive order keeping refugees from entering the country for 120 days, and banning the entry of immigrants from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia for 90 days, he changed his mind. “Iranians have represented culture & civilization for millennia”, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif tweeted.

“You guys know that it’s not hypocritical to be Iranian and pro-democracy, right?” said Seth Mandel, the Op-Ed editor of the New York Post.

Mr Trump said the order was not about religion, adding: “This is about terror and keeping our country safe”.

The order was suspended after the Washington State attorney general argued it violated a clause in the USA constitution.