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Iranian director Jafar Panahi handed one-year prison term
Acclaimed Iranian film-maker Jafar Panahi has been sentenced to one year in prison and barred from traveling abroad, his lawyer confirmed on Monday. The ruling coincides with the US recognition of his latest work, It Was Just An Accident, which won multiple awards at the Gotham Awards in New York.
Legal troubles and artistic defiance
Panahi, 65, has faced repeated crackdowns by Iranian authorities. He has previously served two prison terms and remains under a ban on film-making in Iran. Despite these restrictions, he attended the Gotham Awards in person to collect prizes for best director, best screenplay, and best international film.
In an interview before the latest sentence was announced, Panahi stated his intention to return to Iran. He has been a vocal critic of government censorship and repression, often addressing these themes in his work.
Awards and acclaim for clandestine film
It Was Just An Accident, shot secretly in Iran, tells the story of five Iranians who encounter a man they believe tortured them in prison. The film has garnered international praise, winning the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival in May and positioning itself as a strong contender for the upcoming Oscars.
During his Cannes acceptance speech, Panahi condemned the Iranian regime's restrictions on artists. He described the film as partly inspired by his own incarceration and the stories of fellow prisoners.
Personal reflections on exile and resistance
In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Panahi recounted a conversation with an elderly Iranian exile in Los Angeles who urged him not to return. He responded, "I can't live outside Iran. I can't adapt to anywhere else."
Panahi questioned the potential consequences of his return, asking, "What are the officials going to do that they haven't done already?" His remarks underscore his resolve to continue working despite the risks.
Previous detentions and ongoing struggle
Panahi was imprisoned in 2022 for protesting the detention of two fellow film-makers critical of the government. He served seven months of a six-year sentence before being released. In 2010, he received another six-year term for supporting anti-government protests and creating "propaganda against the system," though he was freed on bail after two months.
Message of solidarity at Gotham Awards
"I hope that this dedication will be considered a small tribute to all film-makers who have been deprived of the right to see and to be seen, but continue to create and to exist."
Jafar Panahi, Gotham Awards acceptance speech
While Panahi did not address his new sentence during his Gotham Awards speeches, he praised film-makers who persist in their craft under oppressive conditions, emphasizing their "faith in truth and humanity."
