Greeting Friends:

Its been a long 40 days since I posted on this great forum. You all know where I have been and I will try to give you all as much information as I can about my trip to IRAN after 25 years of absence.

First, I would like to thank you all for your heart warm prayers and compassion you posted here when I was detained in Iran. I read most of them and they made me cry and happy at the same time. Thanks from bottom of my heart.

When our plane landed in Tehran it was about 5 or 6 AM and to be honest I was nervous, excited and anxious all at the same time. I knew lot of people were waiting for me on the other side and I wanted to get there as fast as I could. But as soon as I reached the passport counter, and after they looked at my passport I was detained by 3 revolutionary guards along with 4 other passengers that I could see. They took me to a room and I was there for about 6…

America’s Leading Filmmakers Call for the Release of Jafar Panahi

From the press release statement:

AMERICA’S LEADING FILMMAKERS CALL FOR RELEASE OF IMPRISONED IRANIAN DIRECTOR JAFAR PANAHI

Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Robert Redford, Francis Ford Coppola, Terrence Malick, Steven Soderbergh, the Coen Bros., Jim Jarmusch, Michael Moore, Ang Lee, Robert De Niro, and Oliver Stone, among other leading film industry figures, have condemned the detention of Jafar Panahi, the acclaimed director of "The White Balloon" and "Offside," and are urging the Iranian government to release him.

This may go a long way toward pressuring the regime to release Jafar. It will at least bring a lot more attention to Jafar’s plight than the regime needs or wants right now. Hoping for the best, but I feel good :)

"Freedom, equality is people rights and our voice"

"our government is corrupted"

"Student, workers come together today. We are a UNION."

"We dont accept anything but FREEDOM"

"Death to Dictator"

"God is Great"