Germany calls for release of arrested Iranian film director Jafar Panahi

Germany protests arrest of Iranian filmmaker

BERLIN — Germany’s foreign minister called Wednesday for the release of acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, who was arrested in Tehran this week.

Panahi, who has supported his country’s opposition, was arrested Monday and accused of committing unspecified offenses.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle condemned the arrest and appealed to Tehran “to do everything so that Mr. Panahi is freed without delay.”

“The Iranian leadership is called upon to comply with the international commitments it has made to protect the civil and political rights of its citizens,” Westerwelle said in a statement.

The Berlin film festival also protested Panahi’s arrest. The filmmaker was denied permission to leave Iran last month to attend a panel discussion at this year’s festival.

“We are concerned and dismayed that a director who has won many international prizes has been arrested due to his work as an artist,” festival director Dieter Kosslick said.

Panahi’s “Offside,” a film about girls who disguise themselves as boys to sneak into a football (soccer) match in Tehran, won a runner-up Silver Bear award at the 2006 Berlin festival.