Prominent Iranian artists condemn mass killing of protesters

A group of Iranian artists, filmmakers and intellectuals including acclaimed director Jafar Panahi on Friday issued a statement condemning the mass killing of protesters by the Islamic Republic across Iran.

"We strongly condemn the widespread killing of Iranians by the Islamic Republic government during the nationwide uprising across Iran," the statement said.

“The killing and arbitrary detention of protesters constitute clear evidence of systematic violence against citizens and a serious violation of fundamental human rights, including the right to life and freedom of expression,” the statement says.

“We call on the international community, human rights organizations, global institutions and independent media to respond urgently, as lives of thousands of detainees are in serious danger and that silence at this moment could lead to irreversible and catastrophic consequences," the statement added.

The statement is signed by a number of high-profile cultural and academic figures, including Oscar-nominated actress Shohreh Aghdashloo, filmmakers Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof, and Abbas Milani, a Stanford University historian and Iran scholar.