Trafalgar Square packed as hundreds show support for Iranian director Asghar Farhadi boycotting Oscars over Trump’s so-called ‘travel ban’
The filmmaker's Oscar nominated movie The Salesman was aired, as London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the US President "can't silence me"
A MASSIVE crowd showed their support in central London for the Iranian director boycotting this weekend's Oscars over Donald Trump's so-called 'Muslim travel ban'.
Asghar Farhadi, who won an Academy Award in 2012, is avoiding the LA bash after the ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan and actors Keira Knightley, Dominic West, and Lily Cole organised the free screening of Farhadi's The Salesman in Trafalgar Square to show solidarity with the filmmaker's boycott, and they were joined by other celebrities including Blur singer Damon Albarn and director Mike Leigh.
The Salesman is up for best foreign language film at the star-studded ceremony in California.
A huge crowd filled the iconic location in the heart of the capital, as several Iranian flags were on display.
The director Farhadi was not present but said he was there "in spirit" and "thanked everyone from the bottom of his heart" for attending.
In a recorded video message, he said: "Despite our different religions, cultures and nationalities, we are all citizens of the world."
An estimated 10,000 spectators attended the screening, which was also the British premiere of the film, according to the mayor's office.
Speaking to AFP in Trafalgar Square, London Mayor Sadiq Khan described the ban as "cruel" and "shameful", and also declared to loud cheers that "Trump can't silence me"
Mayor Khan said: "At a time when people are talking about travel bans, I want to welcome people.
"At a time when people are motivating communities to divide, I want to unite them."
The actress Cole also gave an impassioned speech in front of the National Gallery.
She said: "We are here to demonstrate that alternatives are possible and why things like the Trump ban are unnecessary in this day and age, because London is wonderfully open."
British director Mike Leigh addressed the crowd, saying the screening should be both a protest and a celebration.
Tanya Arafeh, a Palestinian, said she enjoyed the sense of unity in the central London square.
"I feel proud and empowered, I love the fact that everyone has come together to support each other and also just to have a nice day in London," she told AFP.
Mr Farhadi previously compared the new immigration policy to the actions of hardliners in Iran.
He said: “For years on both sides of the ocean, groups of hardliners have tried to present to their people unrealistic and fearful images of various nations and cultures in order to turn their differences into disagreements, their disagreements into enmities and their enmities into fears.
“Instilling fear in the people is an important tool used to justify extremist and fanatic behaviour by narrow-minded individuals.”
Trump's executive order barred nationals of seven Muslim-majority states — Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
But the ban, which caused travel chaos across airports and sparked worldwide protests, was halted by a federal judge.
Sunday's Oscars ceremony is expected to be dominated by political speeches about Trump and his controversial travel ban, while comedian Jimmy Kimmel, who will host the show, has said he will be a target for jibes.
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