Mohsen Makhmalbaf, a well-known Iranian filmmaker said that Afghan artists are fighting the Taliban's plans to radicalise society through Afghanistan International and other networks.
Addressing the British Parliament, Makhmalbaf said that Afghanistan International provides information to Afghanistan 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Iranian director and writer, who is also well-known in Afghanistan, said on Wednesday in the British Parliament's Culture, Media and Sports Committee, referring to democracy and freedom of expression during the republican era, "Afghanistan had 97 TV channels, more than here (London). Those two decades were the height of freedom of expression. It was the height of democracy. Despite the violence, freedom of expression was better than in the entire Middle East."
Speaking at the committee to ask Britain for help to evacuate artists from Afghanistan, Makhmalbaf said, "Therefore, I say that saving these artists is not saving people, it is the fruit of two decades of democracy. It is the salvation of Afghanistan's cultural heritage. When they come here, the voices of the people of Afghanistan will become voiceless."
The well-known Iranian filmmaker pointed to the role of Afghanistan International, and BBC Persian, saying, "Afghanistan International is a new TV channel headquartered in London. Most of the educators and artists cooperate with this network. It produces news for Afghanistan 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
These TV channels are set up by Afghans who have fled Afghanistan, he said, and added that "we need more channels and more voices".
According to Makhmalbaf, Afghan artists and intellectuals use these networks to spread information about what is happening in Afghanistan and educate people the values of democracy and freedom.
Addressing members of the British Parliament's Culture and Media Committee, he said, "Imagine that today, Afghan children are under the Taliban's special education system. We will have many terrorists in the next generation. The Taliban produce terrorists."
Makhmalbaf added, "If you want to have open-minded people in Afghanistan, you need a partner here, we do not have expertise in the field of Afghanistan. When artists come from Afghanistan, they can educate their people through social media and TV channels."
Mohsen Makhmalbaf is a well-known Iranian director whose film "The Journey to Kandahar" won many awards. Time magazine named the film one of the 100 best films in the history of world cinema in 2005.
British producer and writer Jimmy Mulville also told a meeting of the British Parliament's Culture and Media Committee that those moving to the UK did not need to find work or housing. "They want not to be killed, (when) they come here, they can work, they can produce content through Afghanistan International TV, BBC Persian and other channels," he added.
Referring to the Taliban's media restrictions in Afghanistan, the British writer said that young people in Afghanistan "see their cultural values through these networks, even though from 4,000 miles away, there is freedom of expression that they (youth) do not have”.
Makhmalbaf told a meeting of the British Parliament's Culture and Media Committee that at least seven artists have been killed in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Makhmalbaf said that the lives of hundreds of other artists are also at risk.
The Iranian director and writer said that he and his friends compiled a list of 800 artists and filmmakers whose lives were in danger in Afghanistan two months before the fall of Kabul in August 2021.
Makhmalbaf said that his campaign has so far relocated 398 Afghan artists and their families to France, Germany and the United States, but there are still 283 others, including 90 artists, with families in Afghanistan. The Iranian filmmaker, who attended the meeting with his daughter and son, Hanna and Maysam, said, "At least 301 artists and their families have been transferred to France. Germany has transferred 80 of them and another 70 have been transferred to the United States."
Makhmalbaf pointed to the dangers that threaten those left behind in Afghanistan, saying that those who managed to reach Iran and Pakistan have recently been deported by the Islamic Republic. He called on members of Britain's Culture, Media and Sports Committee to help those who remain in Afghanistan and save their lives as soon as possible.