Voice of America, December 16, 2019
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| Roghaiye Kabiri |
Iranian Azerbaijani writer and member of the Iranian Writers' Association, Roghaiye Kabiri, announced in an open letter that she refused to accept an award at the Tehran International Short Film Festival in protest against the killing of citizens during anti-government protests in Iran in November. She had won second place in the "Quotation Story" category at the 36th Tehran International Short Film Festival.
In her letter addressed to officials of the Young Cinema Society and the Iranian Literature and Stories Association, she wrote that she declined the award "in solidarity with the families of those who lost their lives during the protests in November."
"Dear officials of the Iran Young Cinema Society and the Iranian Literature and Stories Foundation, the events that took place the day after the festival’s closing have caused sorrow for many people in my country. I hereby inform you that I will refuse to accept the cash prize I was awarded in the 'Quotation Story' category," Roghaiye Kabiri wrote in her letter dated December 12 (21 Azar).Poet and short story writer Roghaiye Kabiri was born in the city of Khoy, located in Iran's West Azerbaijan province. She writes most of her works in Azerbaijani Turkish. Several of her works, including "My Heart Hurts" and "My Home," have been published in Baku.
Link to the original text in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Rüqəyyə Kəbiri Tehran Beynəlxalq Qısametrajlı Film Festivalının mükafatını almaqdan imtina edib