TEHRAN The award-winning Iranian director Ja'far Panahi, who directed two highly acclaimed films -- *** Dayereh **** (Circle) and *** Badkonak-e Sefid *** (White Balloon) -- returned to Iran after being experiencing humiliating treatment at New York's J.F. Kennedy Airport. He was on his way to attend a film festival in Argentina.

In a similar incident a few months ago, another famous Iranian film director, Darioush Mehr-Jouei, also returned to Iran when U.S. immigration officials insulted him at the same airport.

In an interview, Panahi elucidated on the insulting behavior of the U.S. immigration officers, saying he was kept in the Immigration Office of the New York Airport with his hands and feet chained.

When asked whether he had tried to contact a member of the Iranian diplomatic corps or any Iranian influential in U.S. cinematic circles, he said that he had asked for an interpreter and be allowed to make a phone call but was refused, and instead, was subjected to a photograph session and finger printing. He vowed that he would bring up the matter of his humiliating treatment by U.S. immigration officers to international attention through U.S. cinematic circles.

Moreover, the Deputy Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister for Cinematic Affairs, Seifollah Dad, in a statement, condemned the behavior of the U.S. immigration officers.