Beirut bans film on Tehran’s Green Wave

Beirut (AsiaNews) - The Lebanese security has banned the screening of "Green Days" a documentary film by Iranian Hana Makhmalbaf (pictured) at the Beirut Festival. The film depicts the Green Wave protests that followed the reelection of Iran's President Ahmadinejad and their violent repression by police and paramilitary organizations (the Basij).

A bad sign for freedom of expression following the formation of a new government in which Hezbollah - the movement supported by Iran and Syria - has a largely dominant role. Even more disturbing is the fact that it is believed the ban is a result of a request to that effect made by the ambassador of Iran, Ghadanfar Rokenabadi.

Colette Naufal, organizer of the event, which is titled "Forbidden Films Festival" says she received a call from the General Security in which "we were informed that it had withdrawn the permit to screen the film." Asked to explain, the answer was: "This is not a decision of ours, we are only sending the orders."

Research into who had actually given the "orders" has not, so far, produced official results. Sources close to the previous pro-Western government, however, have revealed that the Iranian ambassador had already asked the film's projection be blocked, but had been refused. That fact that his request has now been granted calls into question the relationship between the current executive and Tehran.

Protests against the ban have come from "Journalists against violence " and other groups.