A controversial film depicting the plight of Afghan refugees in Iran
was pulled at the eleventh hour in Kabul, sparking angry allegations
that the authorities had caved into pressure from Tehran.As the furore over the cancellation escalated, the Afghan parliament summoned information and culture minister Sayed Makhdum Rahin, who has oversight over such events. Both he and the state-run agency Afghan Film denied they had banned the film, called “Madrassa”, while the Iranian embassy said it had no hand in the decision.
The allegations of Iranian interference, made by filmmakers and a member of parliament, reflect widespread suspicions about the behind-the-scenes role Tehran plays in Afghan politics.
