Afghan Director Roya Sadat Denounces Denied Entry Into Saudi to Present ‘Sima’s Song’ at Red Sea Fest, Claims the Taliban, Holding Same Passport, Got In (EXCLUSIVE)

As a supporter of freedom of expression and artistic creativity, I am deeply saddened and dismayed by the situation facing Roya Sadat, a remarkable Afghan director whose work showcases the resilience and spirit of her people. It is truly unfortunate that despite being issued a Saudi visa, she was denied entry to present her film “Sima’s Song” at the Red Sea Film Festival.

Renowned Afghan filmmaker Roya Sadat, whose current movie “Sima’s Song” is competing at the Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia, is strongly protesting against not being allowed to enter the country to showcase her film, even though she was given a Saudi visa.

In a message sent to EbMaster, Sadat mentioned that she had planned to travel to Jeddah on December 3 for the festival and present her film. However, she was prevented from boarding due to Saudi Arabia’s refusal to accept Afghan passports issued after the Taliban regained power.

This brings up an important query: if these passports aren’t valid for entry, why are visas given initially? It seems as though a visa is issued, but then denied later. After multiple attempts to contact Jeddah, I was eventually prevented from traveling,” Sadat pointed out.

The Red Sea Film Festival’s representatives have yet to provide a response after being asked for verification and comments.

In her following message, Sadat expressed her profound exasperation over two matters that made this peculiar circumstance even more irksome. “Initially,” she stated, “the Saudi authorities declined to uphold the visa they had themselves granted.

Secondly, it’s hard to ignore the blatant hypocrisy,” Sadat continued. “Taliban members, just like me and millions of other Afghan citizens, encounter no such travel limitations.

It was mentioned that the current Taliban Interior Minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani – who is labeled as a terrorist by the U.S. with a $10 million reward on his person – supposedly recently journeyed to Saudi Arabia. His travel itinerary included stops in Jeddah and the Kaaba within the Holy City of Mecca, which is the most significant mosque in Islam and the site for a religious pilgrimage.

“He, a terrorist, was granted entry, while I, an artist, was denied,” Sadat denounced.

Regarding my film at the festival, Sadat, currently residing in the U.S., mentioned that she contemplated pulling it out in protest against a specific policy. Yet, due to respect for the two actors and the producer who had already journeyed to Jeddah, she chose not to act on her initial intention,” she further explained.

Last month, “Sima’s Song,” a movie that chronicles the journey of a wealthy Communist and a destitute Muslim woman through the tumultuous period of their nation’s transition to socialism amidst the Soviet invasion and the rise of anti-Soviet resistance groups, made its debut at the Tokyo Film Festival. As a movie enthusiast, I’m eagerly looking forward to catching this captivating narrative that promises to shed light on an intriguing era in history.

A notable figure in Afghan cinema, Sadat’s professional journey mirrors the tumultuous development of filmmaking within her native land. This journey began with penning her first script under the initial Taliban rule – a time when showing movies could lead to public floggings – and culminated in becoming one of Afghanistan’s most influential directors.

Naman Ramachandran contributed to this report

2024-12-07 16:16

Afghan Director Roya Sadat Denounces Denied Entry Into Saudi to Present ‘Sima’s Song’ at Red Sea Fest, Claims the Taliban, Holding Same Passport, Got In (EXCLUSIVE)

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