Hossein Rajabian

Hossein Rajabian

Hossein Rajabian Iranian Filmmaker
Born (1984-07-05) 5 July 1984
Nationality Iran
Education Dramatic literature (Unfinished)
Occupation Filmmaker, writer, photographer

Hossein Rajabian (Persian: حسین رجبیان‎‎; born 5 July 1984) is an Iranian filmmaker, writer and photographer.

Artistic activities

Hossein Rajabian started off his artistic career in a theater school. Later he made his debut in cinema by making and editing short and documentary films.[1][2] His artistic résumé is dotted with different projects ranging from making (feature) films,[3][4]writing a number of screenplays for feature films, essays on cinema, plays, and carrying out artistic-photographical projects and film workshops.[5] He also found his way into the Faculty of Art and Architecture in Tehran and studied dramatic literature, but he never finished his studies there. Later he gained admission to the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna to continue his studies in cinema and theater, but he was captured by security forces and his passport was seized before setting out for Austria and was barred from taking up academic studies at home and abroad.[6]

Apprehension and court case

Hossein Rajabian, an Iranian writer, photographer and independent filmmaker, After finishing his first feature film, was arrested by Iranian security forces on 5 October 2013 outside his office [in Sari] alongside two musicians, and was transferred to Ward 2-A of Evin Prison where all three of them were held in solitary confinement for more than two months and were threatened with televised confessions.[7][8] He was released on bail (around $66,000) in mid-December, pending trial.[9] Two years later, his case was heard at Branch 28 of Tehran Revolutionary Court which was presided over by Judge Moghisseh (Summer 2015). He was sentenced to Six years in prison and Fines for pursuing illegal cinematic activities, launching propaganda against the establishment and hurling insults at sanctities. On appeal, his sentence was changed to three years imprisonment and three years of suspended jail and Fines.[10][11]

Film release in protest

In protest at his sentence and seizure of his film materials, Hossein Rajabian released the medium-quality copy of his film The Upside-down Triangle online.[12]

Media Reaction to court sentence

A newspaper in Europe carrying the message and image of Iranian filmmaker Hossein Rajabian in prison

The arrest and conviction of Hossein Rajabian was given extensive coverage by media outlets in Iran and other countries.In an exclusive interview, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa Said Boumedouha expressed objection to Rajabian's sentence.[13][14] Afterwards, Amnesty International launched a global campaign and petition calling on all artists across the world to sign the petition and join the campaign. More than 20,000 artists from four corners of the world joined the campaign,[15][16][17][18] chief among them [musician-turned-actor] Jared Leto, an Oscar winning actor, and Ai Weiwei, a Chinese Contemporary artist and activist, who released the news on their Twitter pages.[19][20]

Earlier, other institutions such as PEN International, International Campaign for Human Rights [in Iran],[21][22] European Council of Artists (ECA), the European Composer and Songwriter Alliance, Freemuse [Freedom of Musical Expression], etc.[23][24] simultaneously released a statement calling on Iranian authorities to release Rajabian.[25] In another move, as many as 165 individuals involved in media and cinema activities in Iran and foreign countries sent a letter to Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Jannati,[26][27] and UN Special Rapporteur for human rights in Iran Ahmed Shaheed, in his annual report called for the unconditional release of Hossein Rajabian and two other prisoners.[28]

References

  1. ↑ "International Short Film Festival – Clermont-Ferrand". www.clermont-filmfest.com. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
  2. ↑ "Hossein Rajabian Iranian Filmmaker & Photographer". YouTube. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
  3. ↑ Hossein Rajabian Iranian Filmmaker & Photographer (26 December 2015), Trailer The Upside down Triangle A Film By Hossein Rajabian آنونس مثلث واژگون فیلم حسین رجبیان, retrieved 2016-04-05
  4. ↑ Hossein Rajabian Iranian Filmmaker & Photographer (23 April 2016), The Upside-down Triangle A Film By Hossein Rajabian نسخه کامل مثلث واژگون فیلمی از حسین رجبیان, retrieved 2016-04-24
  5. ↑ "hossein rajabian". hosseinrajabian.webs.com. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
  6. ↑ "Artists Sentenced to Prison". en.iranwire.com. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  7. ↑ "3 Artists Sentenced to Imprisonment and Fine by the Appeal Court of Tehran". Hrana – News Agancy. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
  8. ↑ Dehghan, Saeed Kamali (24 March 2016). "Film-maker and two musicians face three years prison in Iran". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
  9. ↑ "Call on Iranian authorities to drop charges on two musicians and a filmmaker". International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  10. ↑ "Iran: Two musicians and a filmmaker sentenced". Artsfreedom. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  11. ↑ "Artists Sentenced to Prison". en.iranwire.com. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  12. ↑ Hossein Rajabian Iranian Filmmaker & Photographer (23 April 2016), The Upside-down Triangle A Film By Hossein Rajabian نسخه کامل مثلث واژگون فیلمی از حسین رجبیان, retrieved 2016-04-24
  13. ↑ Dehghan, Saeed Kamali (4 March 2016). "Iran: seven key human rights challenges facing President Rouhani". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
  14. ↑ "Iran: Tortured filmmaker and musicians face imminent arrest amid crackdown on artists". www.amnesty.org. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
  15. ↑ "Schrijfactie Iran: 6 jaar cel voor filmmaker en muzikanten". Winterswijkse Weekkrant. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  16. ↑ "Iranian musicians, filmmaker at risk of arrest – Amnesty Urgent Actions". ua.amnesty.ch. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
  17. ↑ "Haftstrafen bestätigt". Retrieved 2016-04-06.
  18. ↑ "Iran: Filmmaker faces prison after three-minute trial". www.amnesty.org.uk. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
  19. ↑ "艾未未 Ai Weiwei (@aiww) | Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
  20. ↑ "jared leto twiitter". twiiter 1 March. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  21. ↑ "Iran: Drop Charges Against Filmmaker and Musicians PEN International". www.pen-international.org. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
  22. ↑ "culture action europe". ARJ carries an International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. 1 January 2000. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  23. ↑ "Call on Iranian authorities to drop charges on two musicians and a filmmaker". Artsfreedom. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  24. ↑ "Call on Iranian authorities to drop charges on two musicians and a filmmaker". International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  25. ↑ "Iran: Two musicians and a filmmaker sentenced". Freemuse. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
  26. ↑ "Iran: 165 Iranian artists and activists protest charges against two musicians and a filmmaker". Artsfreedom. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  27. ↑ "Iran: 165 Iranian artists and activists protest charges against two musicians and a filmmaker". Freemuse. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
  28. ↑ "Filmmaker and Musicians Sentenced to Prison in Iran". journalismisnotacrime.com. Retrieved 2016-04-12.

Sources and external links

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