Hasti Mahdavifar Levels Accusations at Japan's Ambassador to Iran

Mahdavifar's references to souvenirs and luggage led some followers to draw conclusions about her private life and the ambassador's. The actress objected to these interpretations in the comments, writing: "I have never even seen this man." She further claimed the ambassador has refused for two years to respond about events that took place in Japan.

Sazandgi newspaper wrote: Hasti Mahdavifar, a film and television actor, has addressed the Japanese ambassador in Tehran by publishing a video about the fruitless pursuit of events during his stay in Japan. Likening his experience to that of Lucy Blackman, the British woman who died in Japan, he asked Tsukada Tamaki to answer before the end of her mission. The video was released with references to silence, souvenirs, and suitcases, and Mahdavifar's reactions to the audience made it clearer what he meant by addressing the ambassador. The focus of this actor's protest, according to him, is two years of trying to get an answer. In response to those who interpreted his words as a relationship with the ambassador, he emphasized that he has never seen this diplomat up close.

At the end of his mission in Iran, Tamaki took up the flute, as in some previous programs. The performance of pieces from the music of Hayao Miyazaki's films accompanied by the "Station" orchestra was a part of the diplomat's farewell, whose presence in the public space of Iran was also known with music. Mahdavifar targeted this image. In the video, he asked the ambassador not to "caress" Iran's public opinion with his flute playing, and pointing out that he was going to Brussels, he said to take his consul with him. Then he talked about the things he wanted to put in her suitcase and continued his protest by alluding to the extra baggage. Among these interpretations, there was also a direct sentence: "You may go and be silent, but I don't have to be silent." He expressed concern for the next ambassador and pointed out things he believes should not have been done.

Mahdavifar's references to souvenirs and suitcases led some audience to some ideas about his and the ambassador's private life. This actor objected to these interpretations in the comments and wrote: "I did not see this Martike at all". He further claimed that the ambassador has refused to answer about the events that happened in Japan for two years. His criticism included another person in the embassy and described his behavior as inappropriate. Mahdavifar also considered Safir's musical performances as an attempt to sidestep the issue of his protest. Mahdavifar has made the ambassador the subject of his follow-up; Her published statements do not directly accuse Tamaki of abuse.

Lucy Blackman; A trip that led to a criminal case

Mahdavifar's likeness to Lucy Blackman brings to the fore the name of a case that gained global attention more than two decades ago. Blackman, a former British Airways flight attendant, moved to Japan at the age of 21 and worked at a club in Tokyo's Roppongi district. He disappeared on July 1, 2000.

His family went to Japan to find him, launched an awareness campaign and asked the British authorities for help. Tony Blair, the prime minister at the time, also visited the family during his trip to Japan. The case turned from a search for a missing person into an international issue.

In February 2001, Blackman's remains were found in a beach cave near Joji Obara's property. Obara, a real estate activist, was also accused of harassing other women during the investigation. In 2007, the court sentenced him to life imprisonment for the rape of several women and the rape that led to the death of Carita Ridgeway, an Australian woman, but the charge of rape that led to the death of Blackman was not proven. The verdict shocked Blackman's family and the prosecution appealed.

In December 2008, the Tokyo Court of Appeal convicted Obara of kidnapping Blackman, mutilating her, and abandoning her body. The charge of killing Blackman was still not proven, but the initial acquittal was changed in parts of the case.

Obara was convicted of both the crimes against the other women, and on appeal, he was upheld as criminally responsible for Blackman's abduction and treatment of her body. The 2023 Netflix documentary "Missing: The Case of Lucy Blackman" recounts the search for the family and the investigation of Japanese detectives.

The reference to Blackman places Mahdavifar's protest in the context of a woman's experience abroad and the demand for consideration. A detailed retelling of this demand, instead of personal interpretations about luggage and souvenirs, provides the possibility to follow the principle of the protest.