Jafar Panahi’s One-Year Prison Sentence Upheld By Iranian Judge

Article excerpt

Iran's Revolutionary Court upheld filmmaker Jafar Panahi's one-year prison sentence after a retrial, rejecting his attorney's objections on Sunday. Judge Iman Afshari ruled against the acclaimed director on charges of "propaganda activity against the regime," characterizing his work as "underground and problematic." Panahi, known for films like *It Was Just An Accident*, has faced repeated legal pressure from Iranian authorities. The verdict was issued in absentia, suggesting Panahi remains outside Iran or inaccessible to the court.