Iranian Cinema Screenwriters Union Sides With Protesters

Iran’s Union of Cinema Screenwriters says it has suspended its activities to protest the government’s continued denial of the people’s demand for change, amid protests that have convulsed the country for 12 weeks.

"Until the end of the current situation, union members are free to write for others or for themselves or stop their professional activities”, the association’s board of directors said in a statement on December 5, adding: “But the union directors, based on their social and professional duty, currently avoid any communication with government institutions at any level."

"At a time when writing even part of the truth, and not telling the whole truth, is nothing but a lie, we have decided to suspend our association’s activities”, they said.

"We deeply understand that in this new era, we are no longer the voice of the people, but it is the people who speak as the strongest social institution, and we listen to them."

Dozens of actors, filmmakers and other cinema professionals have been summoned, detained and charged amid a brutal state crackdown on the protests calling for more freedoms and women's rights.

More than 440 people have been killed by the security forces and at least 18,000 have been detained, according to activists.