I just received word that Rokhsareh Ghaemmaghami has been granted her visa and will be joining us for the festival. This result belongs entirely to your persistence because there is no way my small voice would have been heard without all of you behind this. I am feeling honestly overwhelmed …
June 15, 2016
Final supporters
In an internationally embarrassing gaffe of the highest order, NZ Immigration Service has refused to grant a visitors visa to Iranian award-winning Iranian film director and human rights activist on the grounds that NZIS believes she is a risk of overstaying.
This refusal based on immigration profiling based on her nationality has disappointed and frustrated Rokhsareh Ghaemmaghami, as well as the organisers of the Documentary Edge film festival.
Film buffs had been looking forward to her appearance and masterclasses in New Zealand as a star attraction at festival events in Wellington and Auckland.
Ghaemmaghami is the director of Sonita, a film released last year about a 14-year-old Sonita Alizada, an Afghan refugee living in Tehran who pursues a vocation as a fiery hip-hop MC – a move that puts her at odds with her home country's authoritarian regime, particularly its enforced marriage practices.
The film has won two awards at the Sundance Film Festival and has been met with widespread critical acclaim.
Festival director Dan Shannan said Ghaemmaghami was to be one of the main guests at this year's event, which runs from May 4 to 15 in Wellington and from May 18 to 29 in Auckland. The decision has harmed the internationally respected festival and its industry event.
"It's is a disaster for us. She was going to be speaking at both of the screenings of her film and was meant to be holding masterclasses on her work in documentaries. Our reputation is at risk and NZ will be an international laughing stock."
He is calling on immigration minister Michael Woodhouse, arts and culture minister Maggie Barry and opposition immigration spokeswoman Jacinda Ardern for help.
Interviewed by NZ journalist, Mike Mather,, Ghaemmaghami said from the USA that she has hoped to travel to New Zealand to promote her work first hand.
"They say because I do not have enough ties to my own country I might want to stay in New Zealand. But that is not correct," she said.–
Ghaemmaghami's visit to New Zealand is part of a busy world tour travelling to promote and speak about Sonita, which also includes stops at Spain, Australia, New York, Turkey and Serbia. Her film Sonita gives a valuable insight into the lives of young Afghan girls and arranged marriages. She is a much sought after international speaker for her work on human rights and social issues.
The decision by Washington DC-based Immigration NZ immigration officer Theresia Tong states Ghaemmaghami was refused entry "because we are not satisfied that you are a bona fide temporary entry applicant, genuinely intending a temporary stay in New Zealand.
"In making this determination we have taken into consideration all information, documents, submissions and your personal circumstances submitted in support of this application. Based on the information that you have supplied, you do not appear to have strong social, economic and family ties to the country of origin or residence, and we believe these circumstances appear to limit or discourage you from departing New Zealand.
"We therefore are not satisfied that you are a bona fide visitor to New Zealand, genuinely intending a temporary stay for a lawful purpose."
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
April 19, 2016
Reached 100 supporters
April 17, 2016
April 14, 2016
I am honestly a bit overwhelmed by the attention this is receiving because I never thought so many people would take notice of this situation. If you have a moment to put this link in front of a few more people today we might actually reach that hundred mark sooner than I expected.
354 Comments
I have known Rokhsareh for over four years. She has a film showing here at the San Francisco International Film Festival later this month. It is completely ridiculous to think that she intends to emigrate to New Zealand! Grant the visa and apologize!
As a friend of Rokhsareh and the subject of her film Sonita, I believe there is no valid reason for Rokhsareh's denied visa. She is trying to spread the message to end child marriage and teach people about the power of film, nothing less.
Rokhsareh Ghaemmaghami is not going to overstay her visitor's visa. It would be great if she did stay in New Zealand permanently, but there is no chance that this will happen, so please just give her a visa to come to the festival.
The reasons given for refusing her Visa seems small and petty minded and make me wonder if these reasons would be given for a white male visiting from a western country. Please allow this filmmaker into New Zealand to fulfil her invitation.
I am a researcher on the NZ film industry. This visit with master classes will help build capacity in our industry. She is a globally acclaimed film-maker on a global tour. Why would she want to stay in New Zealand? This mistake is an embarrassment to New Zealand.
This is really really ridiculous folks. Is this what Australia stands for?
Sonita is a very important movie, and Rokhsareh is helping shed light on one of the most horrible practices in the world, child sex slavery (which is what forced child marriage entails)
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I just received word that Rokhsareh Ghaemmaghami has been granted her visa and will be joining us for the festival. This result belongs entirely to your persistence because there is no way my small voice would have been heard without all of you behind this. I am feeling honestly overwhelmed …
June 15, 2016
Final supporters
In an internationally embarrassing gaffe of the highest order, NZ Immigration Service has refused to grant a visitors visa to Iranian award-winning Iranian film director and human rights activist on the grounds that NZIS believes she is a risk of overstaying.
This refusal based on immigration profiling based on her nationality has disappointed and frustrated Rokhsareh Ghaemmaghami, as well as the organisers of the Documentary Edge film festival.
Film buffs had been looking forward to her appearance and masterclasses in New Zealand as a star attraction at festival events in Wellington and Auckland.
Ghaemmaghami is the director of Sonita, a film released last year about a 14-year-old Sonita Alizada, an Afghan refugee living in Tehran who pursues a vocation as a fiery hip-hop MC – a move that puts her at odds with her home country's authoritarian regime, particularly its enforced marriage practices.
The film has won two awards at the Sundance Film Festival and has been met with widespread critical acclaim.
Festival director Dan Shannan said Ghaemmaghami was to be one of the main guests at this year's event, which runs from May 4 to 15 in Wellington and from May 18 to 29 in Auckland. The decision has harmed the internationally respected festival and its industry event.
"It's is a disaster for us. She was going to be speaking at both of the screenings of her film and was meant to be holding masterclasses on her work in documentaries. Our reputation is at risk and NZ will be an international laughing stock."
He is calling on immigration minister Michael Woodhouse, arts and culture minister Maggie Barry and opposition immigration spokeswoman Jacinda Ardern for help.
Interviewed by NZ journalist, Mike Mather,, Ghaemmaghami said from the USA that she has hoped to travel to New Zealand to promote her work first hand.
"They say because I do not have enough ties to my own country I might want to stay in New Zealand. But that is not correct," she said.–
Ghaemmaghami's visit to New Zealand is part of a busy world tour travelling to promote and speak about Sonita, which also includes stops at Spain, Australia, New York, Turkey and Serbia. Her film Sonita gives a valuable insight into the lives of young Afghan girls and arranged marriages. She is a much sought after international speaker for her work on human rights and social issues.
The decision by Washington DC-based Immigration NZ immigration officer Theresia Tong states Ghaemmaghami was refused entry "because we are not satisfied that you are a bona fide temporary entry applicant, genuinely intending a temporary stay in New Zealand.
"In making this determination we have taken into consideration all information, documents, submissions and your personal circumstances submitted in support of this application. Based on the information that you have supplied, you do not appear to have strong social, economic and family ties to the country of origin or residence, and we believe these circumstances appear to limit or discourage you from departing New Zealand.
"We therefore are not satisfied that you are a bona fide visitor to New Zealand, genuinely intending a temporary stay for a lawful purpose."
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
April 19, 2016
Reached 100 supporters
April 17, 2016
April 14, 2016
I am honestly a bit overwhelmed by the attention this is receiving because I never thought so many people would take notice of this situation. If you have a moment to put this link in front of a few more people today we might actually reach that hundred mark sooner than I expected.
354 Comments
Godo heavens immigration service - why would she want to stay here when the stories she has to tell are thousands of miles away -and she has been invited by a responsible and bona fide party for only a few days. What on earth are you thinking!
I have known Rokhsareh for over four years. She has a film showing here at the San Francisco International Film Festival later this month. It is completely ridiculous to think that she intends to emigrate to New Zealand! Grant the visa and apologize!
As a friend of Rokhsareh and the subject of her film Sonita, I believe there is no valid reason for Rokhsareh's denied visa. She is trying to spread the message to end child marriage and teach people about the power of film, nothing less.
Rokhsareh Ghaemmaghami is not going to overstay her visitor's visa. It would be great if she did stay in New Zealand permanently, but there is no chance that this will happen, so please just give her a visa to come to the festival.
The reasons given for refusing her Visa seems small and petty minded and make me wonder if these reasons would be given for a white male visiting from a western country. Please allow this filmmaker into New Zealand to fulfil her invitation.
I am a researcher on the NZ film industry. This visit with master classes will help build capacity in our industry. She is a globally acclaimed film-maker on a global tour. Why would she want to stay in New Zealand? This mistake is an embarrassment to New Zealand.
This is really really ridiculous folks. Is this what Australia stands for?
Sonita is a very important movie, and Rokhsareh is helping shed light on one of the most horrible practices in the world, child sex slavery (which is what forced child marriage entails)
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Godo heavens immigration service - why would she want to stay here when the stories she has to tell are thousands of miles away -and she has been invited by a responsible and bona fide party for only a few days. What on earth are you thinking!