Iranian filmmaker Panahi arrested

The filmmaker's son, Panah Panahi said that his parents, sister and 15 other dissidents were arrested on Monday night after security forces raided a private gathering in the family residence.

He said the agents confiscated personal belongings and computers.

There was no official confirmation yet to the arrest of the 49-year-old internationally acclaimed filmmaker.

In 2006, he received the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival for Offside, a film about Iranian girls who disguised themselves as boys to watch a World Cup qualification game of the national team.

A scheduled visit last month to Germany to attend the Berlin Film Festival had to be cancelled after Iranian authorities refused to give Panahi permission to leave Iran.

The Berlinale had invited Panahi as an honorary guest to join a panel discussion on Iranian Cinema.

Panahi had also won the Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion in 2000 for his film The Circle.


/Trend News/