Oscars: Iranian winner Asghar Farhadi blasts Trump travel ban

Iranian-born US engineer and astronaut Anousheh Ansari read out Farhadi's statement

Iranian director Asghar Farhadi has condemned President Donald Trump's "inhumane" travel ban on immigrants, as his movie, The Salesman, won the best foreign language film Oscar.

Farhadi boycotted the ceremony, with two Iranian-Americans representing him.

"Dividing the world into the US and 'our enemies' categories creates fear," his acceptance statement read.

US courts have blocked the travel ban but the Trump administration is preparing a new executive order.

The original ban temporarily prohibited the entry of immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries.

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One of those chosen by Farhadi to represent him, Iranian-born US engineer and astronaut Anousheh Ansari, read out his acceptance statement.

The statement read: "My absence is out of respect for the people of my country and those of the other six nations who have been disrespected by the inhumane law that bans entry of immigrants to the US.

The Salesman was shown on a screen in London's Trafalgar Square on Sunday

"Dividing the world into the US and 'our enemies' categories creates fear. A deceitful justification for aggression and war.

"Filmmakers can turn their cameras to capture shared human qualities and break stereotypes of various nationalities and religions. They create empathy between us and others. An empathy which we need today more than ever."

'Stand in solidarity'

The Salesman tells the story of a married couple who are appearing in a local production of Arthur Miller's play Death of a Salesman and whose lives are thrown into turmoil after the wife is attacked while alone at home, sparking the husband to seek revenge.

Asghar Farhadi sent a recorded message to those watching the London screening

All six directors nominated in the best foreign language film category had signed a statement before the ceremony condemning a "climate of fascism" in the US.

Farhadi, whose movie A Separation won the same category in 2012, had organised a free screening of The Salesman in London's Trafalgar Square on Sunday.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan told the crowds: "President Trump cannot silence me. We stand in solidarity with Asghar Farhadi, one of the world's greatest directors."

In a recorded message, Farhadi said: "Despite our different religions, cultures and nationalities, we are all citizens of the world."

Donald Trump's original executive order, signed on 27 January, said that all travellers with the nationality of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen were not permitted to enter the US for 90 days, or be issued an immigrant or non-immigrant visa.

Mr Trump said the order was not about religion, adding: "This is about terror and keeping our country safe."

The order was suspended after the Washington State attorney general argued it violated a clause in the US constitution. Subsequent rulings have rejected reinstating the order.

Syrian winner denied entry

The Syrian cinematographer of The White Helmets, a Netflix film that won the best short documentary Oscar, was unable to attend the ceremony because he was denied entry to the US by immigration authorities.

Khaled Khateeb, who shot much of the footage of the volunteer search and rescue workers risking their lives in Syria's civil war, was prevented from flying to Los Angeles from Istanbul on Saturday.

Joanna Natasegara and Orlando von Einsiedel urged the audience to applaud the White Helmets

The Associated Press reported that US officials had found "derogatory information" - a category that could include anything from terrorist connections to passport irregularities.

Director Orlando von Einsiedel and producer Joanna Natasegara read out a statement by Khateeb after accepting the award on Sunday night.

"We're so grateful that this film has highlighted our work to the world," Khateeb wrote.

"I invite anyone here who hears me to work on the side of life, to stop the bloodshed in Syria and around the world," he added.

The audience then gave a standing ovation as von Einsiedel made his own appeal.

"It is very easy for these guys to feel they are forgotten," he said. "This war has been going on for six years. If everyone could just stand up and remind them that we all care that this war ends as quickly as possible."