Hossein Rajabian facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hossein Rajabian
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| Born | 5 July 1984 |
| Nationality | Iranian |
| Education | Dramatic literature (Unfinished) |
| Occupation | Filmmaker, writer, photographer |
| Awards | COR AWARD 2022 |
Hossein Rajabian (Persian: حسین رجبیان; born 5 July 1984) is an Iranian filmmaker, writer, and photographer. He is known for speaking out against censorship in art. He believes artists should have the freedom of speech to express themselves. In 2015, he was put in prison because of his filmmaking work.
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Hossein Rajabian's Artistic Journey
Hossein Rajabian began his art journey in theater school. He later started making short films and documentaries. His work includes making feature films, writing screenplays, and creating photography projects. He also wrote essays about cinema and plays.
He studied dramatic literature at a university in Tehran. However, he did not finish his studies there. He was also accepted to a university in Vienna, Austria. He wanted to study cinema and theater further. But before he could leave, security forces stopped him. They took his passport. This prevented him from studying abroad or at home.
One of his famous photography projects is called "People in distance". It is a collection of black and white photography.
Films and Projects
Hossein Rajabian has worked on many film and photography projects. Here are some of them:
Short Films
- So So (2003, 6 minutes)
- Navigation (2005, 43 minutes)
- To Revolution Square (2006, 22 minutes)
- Some Redundant Word in The Dictionary (2010, 20 minutes)
Feature Films
- The Upside-down Triangle (2016, 106 minutes)
- Creation between Two Surfaces (2019, 95 minutes)
Photography Projects
- People in distance (a black and white photography project)
Arrest and Court Case
After finishing his first feature film, Hossein Rajabian was arrested. This happened on October 5, 2013. Security forces took him outside his office in Sari. Two musicians were also arrested with him. They were taken to Evin Prison. There, they were held alone for over two months. They were pressured to make public confessions.
In December, he was released on bail. This means he paid money to be let go until his trial. Two years later, his case went to court. He was accused of illegal film activities. He was also accused of speaking against the government. The court sentenced him to six years in prison and fines.
Later, his sentence was changed. He received three years in prison. He also got three years of suspended jail time and fines. Suspended jail means he would only serve that time if he committed another offense.
Time in Prison and Protests
Hossein Rajabian was sent to Evin Prison in Tehran. After about 11 months, he started a hunger strike. This was his way to protest. He was protesting what he felt was an unfair trial. He also protested the lack of medical care. His brother had also been moved to a different part of the prison.
His first hunger strike lasted 14 days. He became very sick with a lung infection. He was taken to the hospital. He had to stop his strike because of this. Later, he wrote an open letter to the authorities. He started another hunger strike. Many artists around the world supported him.
After 36 days, he convinced the authorities to review his case. He was given medical leave. This was to treat a kidney infection. This infection was caused by the hunger strike. After a difficult time, he was moved to another part of the prison as punishment. He spent three years in Evin Prison. He was finally released due to pressure from global media and human rights groups.
Global Support for Hossein Rajabian
Many important people and groups around the world spoke out. They reacted to Hossein Rajabian's imprisonment.
For example, Ban Ki-moon, who was the head of the United Nations, mentioned him. In a report about human rights, he asked Iran to release Hossein Rajabian. Asma Jahangir, a UN expert on human rights in Iran, also asked for his release.
Wilfred Moore, a senator from Canada, spoke in support of Hossein Rajabian. Åse Kleveland, an artist and political leader from Norway, also showed her support. She asked for the release of all imprisoned artists.
Philip Luther, from Amnesty International, made a video about Hossein Rajabian. He asked artists worldwide to join a campaign to support him. Famous people like actor Johnny Depp and musician Peter Gabriel started a campaign. Its motto was "Art is not a Crime". They wanted to protest censorship and support artists like Rajabian.
More than 12,000 people signed a petition. These included human rights activists and artists. They asked Iranian authorities to review Rajabian's case. The United Nations Human Rights Committee also passed a resolution. This was against the Iranian government. It was because of human rights concerns, including Rajabian's hunger strike.
The United States Senate also extended sanctions on Iran. This was due to human rights issues. People in European countries held protests outside Iranian Embassies. They showed photos of Hossein Rajabian. The United States Department of State also mentioned his situation in their 2016 human rights report.
Films Released in Protest
Hossein Rajabian protested his sentence and the seizure of his film materials. He released a copy of his film, The Upside-down Triangle, online. He did this to show his disapproval.
His second film, Creation between Two Surfaces, was also released online for free. This happened in February 2020. This film was connected to the popular protests in Iran. He released it to protest censorship and show support for the people.
Media Coverage of His Case
News about Hossein Rajabian's imprisonment spread globally. Many major news outlets covered his story. These included Washington Post, Guardian, Independent, Al-Arabiya, BBC, Le Figaro, CNN, and Al Jazeera.
His arrest and conviction were widely reported. Amnesty International launched a global campaign. They asked artists worldwide to sign a petition. More than 20,000 artists joined. This included Oscar-winning actor Jared Leto and Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. Other supporters were Iranian photographer Reza Deghati, musician Kayhan Kalhor, actress Nazanin Boniadi, artist Shirin Neshat, lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, director Bahman Ghobadi, Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi, and director Jafar Panahi. Many shared the news on their social media pages.
Other groups also spoke out. These included PEN International and the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. They asked Iranian authorities to release Rajabian. Many people in media and cinema also sent a letter. They sent it to Iran's Minister of Culture. The UN Special Rapporteur for human rights in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, also called for his release.
See also
In Spanish: Hossein Rajabian para niños
- Culture of Iran
- Islamic art
- Iranian art
- Iranian art and architecture
- List of Iranian artists
