Iran sentences acclaimed filmmaker Jafar Panahi to one year in prison

Iranian authorities have sentenced award-winning filmmaker Jafar Panahi to one year in prison, according to local reports. The development marks another blow to artistic freedom in the country, where several filmmakers and cultural figures have faced legal action in recent years.

Panahi, internationally celebrated for films such as Taxi, The White Balloon and No Bears, has long been known for his outspoken stance on censorship and civil liberties. He had previously been arrested in 2022 and barred from making films or leaving the country, though he continued to work under restrictions.