Thursday, March 28, 2024

Trump’s New Immigration Blockage Could Keep Iranian Oscar Nominee (and Former Winner) Out of U.S.

Share

Iran’s Oscar winning director Asghar Farhadi, an Iranian and a Muslim, will likely be prohibited from attending this year’s ceremony. Farhadi is nominated once again for Best Foreign Language Film, for “The Salesman.”

Before Donald Trump’s miserable, mean and unAmerican Muslim ban went into effect yesterday, the star of The Salesman said she would boycott the Oscars by not coming to the U.S. She presumed she had a choice.

Even if Farhadi were waived in by Trump’s totalitarian regime, he probably wouldn’t make the trip. My guess is he would stand with his people. He’d be right.

Don’t think for a minute this won’t be a topic of conversation at the Oscars. Maybe Trump’s illiterate and ill informed followers don’t care what Hollywood thinks. But Trump closing American immigration to one religion is beyond disgusting. No one should take it lightly. If America sets that kind of standard, one day another country may find Baptists or Lutherans or Methodists unpalatable. Imagine that.

I’m curious to see if anyone mentions this on the red carpet or on the SAG awards show Sunday night. We are in a terrible situation here. It’s time for anyone with a voice to speak up. Trump’s policies are unacceptable.

By the way, on Twitter I’m following @TritaParsi, president of the National Iranian American Council.

 

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.
spot_img

Read more

In Other News