closeicon
World

Iran to sue makers of Argo

articlemain

Iranian officials are planning to file a lawsuit against the makers of the Academy Award-winning film, Argo.

According to the Iranian media, French lawyer Isabelle Coutant-Peyre, wife of Venezualian terrorist Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, has plans to lodge a case in an international court arguing that Argo, directed by Ben Affleck, was an “unrealistic portrayal” of the country.

On Monday, Ms Coutant-Peyre attended a conference in Tehran’s Palestine cinema called a “Hoax of Hollywood” which was attended by Iranian officials.

According to reports, a statement was made at the conference condemning Argo as a “violation of international cultural norms” and labelling the film’s Oscar award as a “propaganda attack against our nation and all of humanity”.

The conference's general secretary, Mohammad Lesani, said: "Isabelle Coutant-Peyre is among the few international lawyers who accept cases which are somehow anti-Zionist," according to news agency Mehr.

"Argo is made by three film-producing companies in Hollywood [and] the Islamic Republic of Iran is going to sue all those who have been active in the anti-Iran domain, including directors and producers," he said.

Based on the 1979 hostage crisis in Iran, Argo tells the story of a CIA agent who helps six American hostages get out of Tehran.

This is not the first time Iran has made complaints of this kind. The country publically criticised the film The Wrestler in 2008 for featuring a wrestler called the Ayatollah, and in 2007 it attacked the depiction of Iran in the film 300.

Share via

Want more from the JC?

To continue reading, we just need a few details...

Want more from
the JC?

To continue reading, we just
need a few details...

Get the best news and views from across the Jewish world Get subscriber-only offers from our partners Subscribe to get access to our e-paper and archive