Iranian filmmakers Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof have condemned the government’s internet blackout as a 'blatant tool of repression' intended to conceal violence against protesters. The statement, posted on social media on Saturday, comes amid widespread unrest in Iran.
Panahi, who was sentenced in absentia to a year in prison for 'propaganda activities,' and Rasoulof, who fled Iran in 2024, said the regime had cut off internet, mobile phones, and landlines. They called on the international community to facilitate access to information and monitor the situation.
Other diaspora artists, including actress Golshifteh Farahani and UK-based artist Soheila Sokhanvari, have also spoken out. Sokhanvari described the events as a revolution, urging the world to be the voice of the Iranian people. Farahani praised the resistance of Iranians.
British comedian Omid Djalili noted a shift from protests to revolution, citing videos of security forces being chased by crowds. The hashtags #IranianRevolution and #IranianRevolution2026 have been widely used.
