The Iranian film crew behind 'Roya' called on the world not to forget the suffering of the Iranian people at the film's German premiere.
Director Mahnaz Mohammadi likened the existence of the Iranian people today to the unbearable life endured by the film's imprisoned protagonist, Roya.
Iranian prisoners are being put to death every four to six hours in the country 'without justice', Mohammadi said, adding she had been forced to witness several hangings while imprisoned in Iran herself.
The film, which opens with a lengthy sequence of physical and psychological torture inflicted on Roya, was already presented at the prestigious Berlinale film festival in February.
Iranian authorities executed at least 1,639 people in 2025, the highest figure since 1989, according to recent reports from NGOs Iran Human Rights and Together Against the Death Penalty.
Thousands of people are in prison, and they are in line for execution, the film's Iranian producer, Farzad Pak, said. 'Please do not forget about Iran.'
