Iranian filmmaker flees to Europe after prison sentence ahead of his Cannes premiere

Iran's acclaimed filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof flees country to avoid prison and flogging sentence

Iran's acclaimed filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof announced that he had fled from his country to Europe after he was given a prison sentence by a court on national security charges. In an Instagram post, Rasoulof criticised the Iranian government and called it a tyrannical and oppressive regime. He also shared a video which showed him crossing the mountainous border of the country.

Iranian filmmaker flees his country after flogging, prison sentence

Award-winning Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof has fled to Europe just days after he was sentenced to prison, lashings and confiscation of property by the Islamic Republic. “I arrived in Europe a few days ago after a long and complicated journey,” Rasoulof said in a statement dated Sunday and shared with The Associated Press. His lawyer…

Shortly before the start of the Cannes International Film Festival, Iranian director and Berlinale winner Mohammad Rasoulof, sentenced to prison, left his country. “I am grateful to my friends, acquaintances and people who have helped me - sometimes at the risk of their lives - to cross the border and get me to safety,” Rasoulof wrote on the online service Instagram.

Famous Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof, sentenced to five years in prison in his country, announced on his Instagram account that he escaped from Iran on Monday, a day before the opening of the Cannes International Film Festival where his latest film is to be screened and where he is expected, according to his lawyer, informs AFP, quoted by Agerpres.

Mohammad Rasoulof faces whipping and a long prison sentence in his homeland. Just before the premiere of his film in Cannes, the director ensures his safety.