Iranian director Jafar Panahi sentenced to five years in prison

On October 28, 2026, the Iranian Revolutionary Court sentenced internationally acclaimed filmmaker Jafar Panahi to five years in prison. In addition to the prison term, the Tehran judicial authorities ordered the total confiscation of his assets. The sentencing also includes a two-year travel ban prohibiting him from leaving the country and a strict, total ban on any activity or posting on his social media accounts. The news was reported by the semi-official Iranian news agency Nournews, citing sources close to the director's legal defense team.

While the specific charges leading to this new conviction have not been formally clarified by the Iranian authorities, human rights organizations have characterized the ruling as a significant escalation in the ongoing crackdown against dissident artists. This legal action is viewed as part of a broader effort to suppress dissenting voices within Iran's cultural sector. Panahi, a recipient of the Cannes Film Festival's Palme d'Or, has long been a target of state pressure due to his political stance and creative work. His defense attorney, Mostafa Nili, was not immediately available to provide a public comment regarding the verdict.