Acclaimed Iranian film director Jafar Panahi has been sentenced in absentia to one year in prison by a court in Tehran, his lawyer has confirmed. The ruling was delivered even as Panahi was in New York City accepting major awards for his latest work.
Court ruling and travel ban imposed
According to his lawyer, Mostafa Nili, who posted the news on social media platform X, the court convicted Panahi on charges of “propaganda activities against the system.” In addition to the prison term, the court imposed a two-year ban preventing the director from leaving Iran. Nili stated he would appeal against the sentence.
The news emerged on Monday evening, coinciding with Panahi's presence at the annual Gotham Awards ceremony. There, his film “It Was Just an Accident” received three awards. Panahi has not publicly commented on the sentence, and it remains unclear whether he intends to return to Iran.
A defiant career under pressure
Jafar Panahi is one of Iran's most celebrated contemporary filmmakers, having faced repeated persecution from authorities over the past two decades. His career has been marked by imprisonment, travel bans, and house arrest, yet he has persistently continued to make films.
His latest award-winning movie was filmed clandestinely in Iran following a seven-month prison stint that ended in 2023 after he undertook a hunger strike. Panahi has said the film's narrative, a revenge drama about former prisoners uncertain of their torturer's identity, was inspired by stories from fellow inmates.
International acclaim amidst legal woes
The sentencing stands in stark contrast to the international recognition Panahi is currently receiving. “It Was Just an Accident” won the prestigious Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in September and has been selected by France as its submission for the upcoming Academy Awards.
This case highlights the ongoing tensions between Iran's artistic community and its judicial system, where creators often face severe penalties for work deemed critical of the state.
