An Iranian court has convicted director Jafar Panahi in absentia and handed him a one‑year prison sentence, media outlets report. The filmmaker is currently outside Iran.
Authorities accused Panahi of engaging in propaganda directed against the regime. He was also prohibited for two years from leaving the country and from taking part in any political or public organizations.
In 2010 Panahi was first charged with anti‑state propaganda; at that time he avoided imprisonment and was placed under house arrest with a travel ban. In July 2022 the sentence was converted into actual custody. In 2023 he was permitted to leave Iran for the first time.
Panahi’s new film, A Simple Coincidence, won the Palme d’Or at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and was chosen as France’s submission for the Academy Awards. The film was scheduled for release in Russia but was denied a theatrical distribution certificate.
