Immigration NZ grants Iranian film director Rokhsareh Ghaemmaghami visa after international outcry

THOMAS MANCH
Last updated 10:16, April 20 2016

​Immigration NZ has backed down, granting a visitor visa to an award-winning Iranian film director after calls for her initial denial to be reconsidered.
Rokhsareh Ghaemmaghami​, director of the documentary Sonita​, planned to travel to New Zealand to attend the screening of her film at the Documentary Edge Film Festival next month. She was denied a visitor visa, considered by immigration officials a potential 'overstayer'.
In a statement this morning, Immigration NZ area manager Michael Carley said a visitor visa had been approved after a review of the application, and receipt of further information from Ghaemmaghami​. 

Immigration NZ have apologised to for the inconvenience caused to Ghaemmaghami.
​Yesterday, film festival director Dan Shanan​ said New Zealand's reputation was damaged by the decision to deny Ghaemmaghami's​ visa.
​More to come.

- Stuff

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