Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi is finally allowed to leave Iran after 14 years of travel ban over his anti-regime activities.
His wife Tahereh Saidi posted on Instagram, “we're going on a trip abroad for a few days," adding a picture of them at the airport.
This comes after Panahi was temporarily released after going through a hunger strike to protest his continued incarceration in Iranian prison. Due to his health condition, and the fact that he stopped taking his medications, his life was in danger.
“I firmly declare that in protest against the illegal and inhumane behavior of the judicial and security apparatus and their hostage-taking, I have started a hunger strike since the morning of February 1st,” wrote Panahi in a statement.
He added, “I will refuse to eat and drink any food and medicine until the time of my release. I will remain in this state until perhaps my lifeless body is freed from prison.”
In July, Panahi was arrested by Iranian government officials for protesting fellow filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof‘s arrest. He was eventually given a 6-year imprisonment sentence.
If you remember, Rasoulof won the Golden Bear for “There is No Evil” just a year ago. It was a political statement about the Iranian government’s incarceration system.
Panahi and Rasoulof were previously arrested in 2011 for filming without a permit. They were given a six-year prison sentence, Panahi served the remainder of his sentence on house arrest. He couldn’t leave the country, but continued making these small and innovative films that used his limited environment.
Panahi, the filmmaker behind “This is Not A Film” and “The Circle,” both brilliant, premiered his latest film last fall at Venice, this one was titled “No Bears.” He obviously didn’t attend that premiere.