Acclaimed Iranian film director Jafar Panahi has been handed a one-year prison sentence by the Iranian judiciary, a ruling delivered in absentia as the filmmaker is currently outside the country.
Details of the Sentence and Appeal
The verdict, confirmed on Tuesday, 2 December 2025, by Panahi's lawyer Mostafa Nili, also imposes a two-year travel ban on the director. Furthermore, it prohibits him from joining any political or social groups. The charges stem from accusations of 'propaganda activities against the Islamic Republic of Iran'.
Mr Nili has stated unequivocally that they intend to appeal against the ruling. Despite the sentence and his current location abroad, Panahi has expressed a firm intention to return to Iran, citing his deep loyalty to his homeland and close family ties.
A History of Government Censure
This latest legal action continues a long-standing pattern of conflict between Panahi and the Iranian authorities. The award-winning director was previously arrested and sentenced in 2010 to six years in prison on similar charges, which also included a 20-year ban on filmmaking.
He was released from that sentence in 2023 after undertaking a hunger strike. Throughout this period, Panahi continued to create films clandestinely, with his work often critiquing social and political issues within Iran.
International Acclaim Amidst Persecution
The sentencing comes shortly after Panahi received significant international recognition for his recent work. His film, 'It Was Just an Accident', recently won the prestigious Cannes Palme d'Or.
Furthermore, the film earned Panahi two Gotham Awards for Best Screenplay and Best Director, accolades he accepted just prior to news of this latest sentence breaking. This juxtaposition highlights the stark contrast between his global artistic celebration and the ongoing persecution he faces from his home government.
The case has drawn immediate concern from international human rights and artistic freedom organisations, who view it as part of a broader crackdown on dissenting voices within Iran's cultural sphere.
