The lead actor in an Iranian drama nominated for an Oscar in the best foreign language film category has said she will boycott this year’s ceremony over Donald Trump’s expected decision to impose visa bans on Iranians. She would boycott the awards ceremony, the actor said, even if she was excluded from the ban – despite it being the first time she has qualified to attend. “Trump’s visa ban for Iranians is racist,” she tweeted. Alidoosti recently starred in a popular Iranian online TV series set in the 1950swhich has echoes in politics today. On 24 January, the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) said in a statement that it was against a blanket ban based on nation of origin.

Source: The Guardian January 26, 2017 16:07 UTC