Read Celeb Petition to Free Jailed Director Roman Polanski
[Ed's note: The following petition, designed to gain the release of jailed director Roman Polanski, has been signed by the following artists: Woody Allen, Pedro Almodovar, Jean-Jacques Annaud, Monica Bellucci, Luc et Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Jonathan Demme, Costa Gavras, Terry Gilliam, Wong Kar Waï, Jan Kounen, Emir Kusturica, John Landis, David Lynch, Tonie Marshall, Jeanne Moreau, Yasmina Reza, Barbet Schroeder, Martin Scorsese, Tilda Swinton... among others.]PETITION
We have learned the astonishing news of Roman Polanski's arrest by the Swiss police on September 26th, upon arrival in Zurich (Switzerland) while on his way to a film festival where he was due to receive an award for his career in filmmaking.
His arrest follows an American arrest warrant dating from 1978 against the filmmaker, in a case of morals.
Filmmakers in France, in Europe, in the United States and around the world are dismayed by this decision. It seems inadmissible to them that an international cultural event, paying homage to one of the greatest contemporary filmmakers, is used by the police to apprehend him.
By their extraterritorial nature, film festivals the world over have always permitted works to be shown and for filmmakers to present them freely and safely, even when certain States opposed this.
The arrest of Roman Polanski in a neutral country, where he assumed he could travel without hindrance, undermines this tradition: it opens the way for actions of which no-one can know the effects.
Roman Polanski is a French citizen, a renown and international artist now facing extradition. This extradition, if it takes place, will be heavy in consequences and will take away his freedom.
Filmmakers, actors, producers and technicians - everyone involved in international filmmaking - want him to know that he has their support and friendship.
On September 16th, 2009, Mr. Charles Rivkin, the US Ambassador to France, received French artists and intellectuals at the embassy. He presented to them the new Minister Counselor for Public Affairs at the embassy, Ms Judith Baroody. In perfect French she lauded the Franco-American friendship and recommended the development of cultural relations between our two countries.
If only in the name of this friendship between our two countries, we demand the immediate release of Roman Polanski.
Read Celeb Petition to Free Jailed Director Roman Polanski
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Roman-
You are not above the law . Your friends will have to wait a while until you can come out and play with them. That's the price you pay, Roman.
- SolarSanitizer
September 30, 2009 11:14AM
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These folks make me want to puke.
I can't believe these celebritards are pushing for this sicko's release. I hope none of them ever have their children victimized like this. They should be ashamed of themselves.
- LagerHead
September 30, 2009 11:17AM
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MONICAA have you learned nothing. .
from playing Mary Magdalene in "The Passion of the Christ"?
Christ was merciful and just. Justice demands the guilty atone for their sins. Maybe it will give Roman Polanski a chance to confess his sin before he meets the Just Judge. As of now, he is unrepentant,running from justice, and it has now come out that he raped Natasia Kinski as well.
How morally bankrupt must you be to expect him to get away with this because you misuse your star power to demand he be excused?
- Leticia Velasquez
September 30, 2009 11:59AM
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Unbelievable
The man plead guilty to having sex with a 13 year old, and these people want to be his friend and think is was a case of morals. All the "players" on that petition (and many who are not on it but have spoken their support for Roman) are now off my list. I will absolutely not support hem and will avoid all movies or TV shows that they are in or produce. It's not much but it's what I can do and at least I can look in the mirror in the morning.
- gtsmith
September 30, 2009 1:31PM
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