Ahmadinejad Adviser's Daughter Seeks German Asylum

Another high-profile (and particularly embarrassing) effort to flee Iran in the wake of the disputed election and subsequent unrest.

This time, according to AP and dpa, it's the filmmaker daughter of an adviser to President Mahmud Ahmadinejad who is himself a documentary maker. Here's AP:

The daughter of a top adviser to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has applied for asylum in Germany, organizers of a film festival that she was attending said Tuesday.

Narges Kalhor, the daughter of Ahmadinejad's adviser on cultural and media affairs, submitted her asylum application to authorities in southern Germany, Nuremberg Human Rights Film Festival spokesman Matthias Rued said.

Her father, Mahdi Kalhor, has been seen as a close ally of Ahmadinejad since early this decade...

"I'm certain he hasn't seen my film or know about this festival or where I am," she said. "I came from my own desire, for cinema, and I have to continue."

Kalhor's film titled "The Rake" was being screened at the festival, reportedly implicitly critical of Iran's current leadership. Dpa goes on to report:

Mehdi Kalhor confirmed to the Iranian Mehr news agency that his daughter had applied for asylum, but said he did not know what her reasons were.

The government advisor said he had not seen his daughter since he divorced his wife a year ago. His daughter had been exploited by "enemies of the country" for propaganda purposes, he said.

Mehdi Kalhor further advised his daughter "not to take the path of no return."

-- Andy Heil