sean stone converts to shia islam - TEHRAN -- The son of U.S. filmmaker Oliver Stone, Sean, who has converted to Islam and chosen the name Ali in Iran, was honored Thursday during a side section program at the 30th Fajr International Film Festival. The honoring ceremony took place at Tehran’s Azadi Cinema with Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hosseini, Deputy Culture Minister for Cinematic Affairs Javad Shamaqdari and secretary of the festival Mohammad Khazaei attending. Stone converted to Islam at the office of Shia cleric Ayatollah Mohammad Nasseri Dowlatabadi in the city of Isfahan last week. On receiving his award, Stone expressed his thanks to Iranians and hoped to make joint films to help improve relations between Iran and the United States, the Persian service of ISNA reported on Friday. He also explained about his reasons for accepting Islam and said that as a student of history, he had studied different religions and it was because of his personal interest that he chose Islam; adding that actually, it was Islam that had invited him. “The conversion to Islam is not abandoning Christianity or Judaism, with which I was born. It means I have accepted Muhammad (S) and other prophets,” Stone, whose famous father is Jewish and mother is Christian, had told AFP last week. Stone came to Iran in early February to attend the 30th Fajr International Film Festival, which ended on February 12. The ceremony continued with a brief speech delivered by Hosseini, in which he hoped Sean Stone would be strong and steady enough to fight against any kinds of attacks or assaults. “If Islam is introduced as a symbol of beauty to the world, all people would be attracted to it,” he said, stressing that Stone was seeking the truth and had discovered it here. Hosseini also expressed his thanks to the filmmakers who tried harder this year to help achieve the ideals of the Islamic Revolution. The ceremony was brought to an end by paying tribute to the managers of several film studios and theaters across Tehran. Show Less >>