Farajollah Salahshour, a filmmaker with close ties to hardline circles in Iran, told the Pana news agency “Iranian actresses themselves having nothing short of being an Angelina Jolie and Iran’s needs an international prostitute to continue its activities.”

Salahshour made the comments in response to recent Iranian media reports about a producer’s efforts to recruit the well-known American actress in his latest movie.

Iranian producer Ali Sartipi had told the semi-official Fars news agency that Masoud Dehnamaki, the director of their upcoming movie, had objected to employing Jolie in the film.

“The Iranian cinema is a whorehouse. Aren’t pictures of artists published day and night? When our women take pride in having half-naked pictures of themselves online, this means that they’re nothing short of an Angelina Jolie.”

It’s worth noting that individuals involved the movie industry in Iran are regularly harassed by authorities.

Security forces recently arrested six documentary filmmakers on accusations that they worked for the BBC’s Persian service.

Also, a Tehran appeals court recently upheld a six-year jail sentence and 20-year filmmaking and travel ban against international award-winning Iranian director Jafar PanahiPanahi was also handed a 20-year filmmaking and travel ban. Since the rigged 2009 presidential election, Panahi has been a vocal supporter for the opposition Green Movement.

Source : The Green Voice of Freedom