Iranian artists will respond to film 300: Culture Minister

Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad-Hossein Saffar Harandi said on Tuesday that Iranian artists will respond to Hollywood filmmaker of the 300.

Saffar Harandi also said in a meeting with the staff of the ministry that production of the film is an obvious insult to all Iranians and is considered a shame in Hollywood's record.

He told reporters that certain individuals perpetrated such a disgrace by making a film to take revenge from Iranian people and challenge their glorious history and reputation.

"Westerners confess to the fact that when they were in the dark period of the Middle Age, Iranians were forerunner in science and culture thanks to their scientists and well-known celebrities," he said.

"Wildness, displayed in such a film, is specific character of the filmmaker himself, and Iranians with longstanding and great civilization could never be so."
Pointing to strategy of the culture ministry in the new Iranian year (started March 21, 2007), he said that it will provide people living in remote areas with cultural services.