The Screenwriters Association (SWA) of India expresses its shock and outrage at the recent policy announcement by the new President of America, imposing barriers on the entry of people from other countries, which is clearly a thinly disguised ‘Anti-Muslim’ ban. Discriminating against people on the basis of the country, religion or region that they were born into amounts to a violation of their natural freedom of movement and hence of their human rights.
Such xenophobic policies create and reinforce suspicion and hate among peoples, thereby legitimating prejudice and even inciting violence by demonizing certain communities and nationalities.
SWA stands in solidarity with their brother unions – the Writers Guilds of America (West and East) and their screenwriting members – which have issued the following statement protesting and opposing the ban policies:
Writers Guilds Statement on Muslim Ban;
Solidarity with Iranian Filmmaker Asghar Farhadi
New York and Los Angeles (January 29, 2017)
The following is a joint statement from Michael Winship, President, Writers Guild of America East (WGAE), and Howard A. Rodman, President, Writers Guild of America West (WGAW):
“It is both unconstitutional and deeply wrong to say that you cannot enter our country because of where you were born or what religion you were born into. The Writers Guilds of America, East and West condemn Donald Trump’s profoundly un-American “Muslim ban,” and applaud the Federal Court’s decision to grant a stay that will keep those being held at American airports from being forcibly returned to their countries. Human rights – including the freedoms of speech and religion – are essential to all Americans and to all who come here to build better lives.
“We are especially troubled by reports that Asghar Farhadi, director of THE SALESMAN, which won Best Screenplay at Cannes and is now nominated for an Oscar, may together with his cast and crew be prevented from entering our country. From its early days, the entertainment industry has been built by the imagination of immigrants. Our guilds are unions of storytellers who have always welcomed those from other nations, and of varying beliefs, who wish to share their creativity with America. We are grateful to them, we stand with them, we will fight for them.”
(For more information on the Writers Guild of America, East, visit www.wgaeast.org. For more information on the Writers Guild of America, West, visit www.wga.org.)