Iran Film Festival has denied the screening of Indian film Sisak because it has an LGBT love story as its plot.

In an email to film maker Faraz Mariam Arif Ansari, the organizers turned down the film stating, “We are sorry but this subject is not suitable for our festival.” The unsuitability of the content of the film was due to the fact that LGBTQ relationships are illegal in Iran and punishable by death.

Another email from the organizers stated, “We truly love your film but given the socio-political scenario here, it will be absolutely impossible to allow the film to be a part of TISFF. You have made a great film and it’ll go places.”

According to DNA India, Ansari is heart-broken and said, “I have made a love story about two people who happen to be men. They don’t kiss, touch or even look at each other in a lascivious way. Even Majid Majidi’s films are always centered around male characters and their interaction. It is just that these men are not romantically or sexually attracted to each other. But then an Iranian film won an Academy Award this year. So it’s about time they became progressive and stood up to their oppressive laws.”

Fearing a backlash from the Trump Administration, the Washington West Film Festival has also declined to screen Sisak. Sisak will now debut at Wicked Queer, the world’s largest LGBTQ festival and will be part of the grand finale.