Iranian artists appeal to US to suspend sanctions amid coronavirus crisis

Iranian artists and filmmakers, led by Rakhshan Bani-Etemad, have issued an appeal to the United States to suspend economic sanctions during the coronavirus pandemic. The appeal, published by Artribune, argues that sanctions exacerbate the health crisis by blocking access to medical supplies and medicines. Signatories include prominent figures such as Shirin Neshat, Marjane Satrapi, and Mohsen Vaziri. The appeal is supported by Italy's National Association of Cinematographic Authors (Anac). The article details the broader context of censorship and repression in Iran, citing cases of filmmakers like Mohammad Rasoulof, who was sentenced to prison after winning the Golden Bear at Berlinale, and Jafar Panahi, who is banned from filmmaking for 20 years. It also notes the impact of US sanctions and the Travel Ban on Iranian cinema, including Asghar Farhadi's absence from the 2016 Oscars. The piece lists Iranian films available on streaming platforms in Italy and recommends resources for understanding Iranian cinema, such as Claudio Zito's blog and Paola Rivetti's book "Political Participation in Iran from Khatami to the Green Movement." The appeal emphasizes that Iran faces a dual emergency: the coronavirus and sanctions, calling on artists worldwide to support their cause.