Iranian actors, directors condemn anti-Islam movie

TEHRAN,Oct.2(MNA) -- A group of Iranian stage and screen actors and directors gathered in the courtyard of Tehran’s City Theater Complex on Sunday and signed a petition to condemn the anti-Islam movie “Innocence of Muslims”. The U.S. documentarian and telefilm producer Scott J.T. Frank and Canadian actor Barry Green were also accompanying the attendees who signed the petition, Persian news agencies reported on Monday. The amateurish movie originated in the United States and insults the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S). Hossein Parastar, Afsaneh Bayegan, Abolfazl Purarab, Jamal Shurjeh, Javad Hashemi, Giti Moeini and Sadreddin Hejazi were among those who attended the gathering. Frank, who is in Iran making a documentary about the downing of an Iranian airliner by a U.S. warship in the Persian Gulf in 1988, said that the anti-Islamic film is not representative of his country’s filmmakers. Filmmaker and producer Sadreddin Hejazi also made a brief speech and said that no individual can tolerate insults to his beliefs. Pop singer Meraj Mohammadi next gave a short performance for the participants. The Iranian traditional ensemble Dastan also performed two of their compositions at the ceremony.