Iranian Supreme Leader Criticizes 'American Sniper' Movie

Report: Iran's Supreme Leader Criticizes 'American Sniper'

February 17, 2015

AP - Iran's supreme leader has criticized the film "American Sniper," saying the movie about a U.S. soldier fighting in Iraq encourages violence against Muslims, a state-run newspaper reported Tuesday.

The comments by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, published in the daily IRAN Farsi newspaper, come amid renewed criticism of the West by the leader as his country negotiates with world powers over its contested nuclear program.

The newspaper quoted Khamenei as saying he hadn't watched the film directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Bradley Cooper, but had heard about its plot from others. The film focuses on the life of U.S. Navy SEAL marksman Chris Kyle, who with 160 confirmed kills is considered the most lethal sniper in American military history.

"The movie 'Sniper' that is made by Hollywood encourages a Christian or non-Muslim youngster to harass and offend the Muslims as far as they could," the newspaper quoted Khamenei as saying.

Khamenei also reportedly discussed neo-Nazis attacking Muslims in Germany, saying Muslims have no safety in the West.

"You are seeing what sort of propaganda there are against Muslims in Europe and the U.S.," he reportedly said.

The newspaper said Khamenei made the comments while meeting representatives of Iranian religious minorities in the country's parliament three weeks ago. The newspaper did not explain why it was publishing the comments now.

"American Sniper" has been a sensation at the box office, earning more than $300 million in North America since its release in December.

Hollywood's movies are popular in Iran and Iranian state television channels occasionally broadcast them. However, "American Sniper" has not been released in Iran, where Khamenei has final say in all state matters.

The U.S. and Iran have viewed each other with mutual suspicion since the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution overthrew the American-back shah and the ensuing hostage crisis at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. Iranian-backed militiamen and soldiers are battling the Islamic State group now in Iraq, but the country has not joined a U.S.-led coalition targeting the extremists in airstrikes.

Report: 'American Sniper' Criticized By Iranian Supreme Leader

February 17, 2015

Ali Jaafar - Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper has reportedly been criticized by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for encouraging attacks against Muslims. The state-run IRAN Farsi newspaper published comments Tuesday it attributed to Khamenei.

“The movie ‘Sniper‘ that is made by Hollywood encourages a Christian or non-Muslim youngster to harass and offend the Muslims as far as they could,” the newspaper quoted Khamenei, who also reportedly admitted to not having seen the film, as saying in a meeting with representatives of Iranian religious minorities in the country’s parliament three weeks ago. 

There was no explanation as to why his comments were now being shared with the public.

American Sniper, starring Bradley Cooper, tells the real-life story of Chris Kyle, the deadliest sniper in U.S. military history and someone who served four tours of duty in Iraq, where he earned the nickname “the Devil of Ramadi” from insurgents following his exploits in combat. It has drawn in over $300 million in the U.S. alone since its release on Christmas Day last year.

Despite accusations in some quarters the film glorifies war and killing, American Sniper has proven a box office hit across the Arab world, where it has attracted almost 300,000 admissions since its release across the region January 22. The film has even managed to draw in some 7,000 admissions in Iraq, where much of the film is set. In a sign, however, of Iraq’s bitter political divisions, the film is only playing in the semi-autonomous area of Kurdistan. All planned screenings in Baghdad, on the other hand, were pulled for fear of inciting protests and potential violence.

Elsewhere in Iran, Golden Bear-winning filmmaker Jafar Panahi finally broke his silence following his victory at Berlin for Taxi. In comments reported by the country’s Ilna news agency, Panahi expressed his gratitude for the win but pleaded with authorities to allow his film to be screened in Iran. “No prize is worth as much as my compatriots being able to see my films,” commented the acclaimed filmmaker. “The people in power accuse us of making films for foreign festivals. They hide behind political walls and don’t say that our films are never authorized for screening in Iranian cinemas.”

Taxi is Panahi’s third film since he was arrested and banned from making films by the Iranian authorities in 2010. Prior to that, he had been one of his country’s leading independent filmmakers, winning the Golden Lion in Venice for The Circle in 2000, as well as the Un Certain Regard Jury prize in Cannes for Crimson Gold in 2003 and the Jury Grand Prix in Berlin in 2006 for Offside.

Even though he is no longer under house arrest, Panahi is still unable to leave Iran and a six-year prison sentence remains against him, although it has yet to be enforced. Panahi’s victory has also proven awkward for authorities in Iran. The head of Iran’s Cinema Organization, Hajjatollah Ayoubi, published an open letter that seemed to both decry Berlinale topper Dieter Kosslick’s decision to select Taxi as well as celebrate Jafar Panahi’s ability to make it.

“I, like many other lovers of cinema, hear the ominous sound of the footsteps of politics at the Berlin festival. I, like the rest of you, wanted Berlin to remain a refuge of culture and art, but it seems that someone preferred politics to art,” commented Ayoubi. “I regret that you wish to drive everybody in a taxi of new misunderstandings about the Iranian people by screening a film made by a director who has been banned by law from making films, but nevertheless, he has done exactly that. I am delighted to announce that the director of Taxi continues to drive in the fast lane of his life, freely enjoying all of its blessings.”