A Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Oscar-nominated director Jafar Panahi to five years and one month in prison in absentia, ordering asset confiscation and two-year bans on travel and social media, his lawyer said.
A Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi to five years and one month in prison in a new ruling issued in absentia, his lawyer Mostafa Nili said on October 28.
The sentence includes the confiscation of Panahi’s movable and immovable assets, a two-year ban on social media activity, and a two-year travel ban. Nili told reformist outlet Emtedad that the court documents claimed Panahi was abroad, though he returned to Iran in March and appeared in court in August on a separate matter. The specific charges in the latest case have not been publicly detailed.
Panahi, 66, already faced a one-year prison term for propaganda activities against the regime, upheld earlier in 2026, linked to his Palme d’Or-winning film It Was Just an Accident. He has faced repeated restrictions from Iranian authorities over the years, including prior imprisonment and work bans, while continuing to make films covertly.
Lawyer statements to Emtedad, Euronews, The Hindu and The Independent confirm the sentence length, the in-absentia nature, the asset confiscation and the bans. No official Iranian government statement on the ruling has been published in the coverage reviewed. Panahi has not been detained following the sentence, according to associates.
The ruling adds to the long-running pressure on independent Iranian cinema. Appeals remain possible, and the next developments will turn on whether authorities move to enforce the sentence or freeze further assets while Panahi remains in the country.
People Sentiments Public Mood: Negative
- Nili: court claimed he was abroad
- Associates: not detained