Iran’s #MeToo movement makes waves in Toronto as calls mount for festival to cut ties with celebrated artist

Last month, The New York Times released a report detailing multiple allegations of sexual harassment, assault and misconduct against prominent 80-year-old Iranian contemporary painter Aydin Aghdashloo. (Dave Todon/Facebook) Accusations of sexual assault against one of Iran’s most celebrated visual artists are making waves in Toronto’s Iranian community — with many saying they represent a critical moment not only in the burgeoning #MeToo movement inside Iran, but also an opportunity for community leaders abroad to take a stand against a culture of impunity they say has too long shielded perpetrators at all levels of power.

Last month, The New York Times released a report detailing multiple allegations of sexual harassment, assault and misconduct against Aydin Aghdashloo, 80, a prominent Iranian contemporary painter. The report cites interviews with some 13 women, including former students whose accusations the paper says date back three decades. Nineteen of the 45 people interviewed, the story says, described him as the “Harvey Weinstein of Iran.” The allegations remain unproven and have not been tested in court. In an email to CBC News, Aghdashloo’s lawyer said the artist could not provide comment at this time, but “we will be further rebutting the many inaccuracies in the NYT’s […]

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