An Iranian court has sentenced the film director Jafar Panahi in his absence to five years and one month in prison and ordered all his assets to be seized, The Guardian reports, citing his lawyer.
Panahi, 66, whose film It Was Just an Accident took Cannes' top prize, the Palme d'Or, in 2025, was also given a two-year travel ban and a two-year ban on using social media. The charges are unclear. His lawyer said Panahi had not been told of the hearing and learned of the case when his bank accounts were frozen.
Panahi returned to Iran in March despite an earlier one-year sentence for propaganda against the state. A friend said he had not been detained. Rights groups say Iran is stepping up pressure on artists and writers, and a human rights lawyer said the asset seizure could breach Iran's constitution.
Source: The Guardian
