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Jafar Panahi: Iran's Judiciary Upholds Director's Prison Sentence After Appeal Rejection
🇩🇪 Germany /Crime & Justice

Jafar Panahi: Iran's Judiciary Upholds Director's Prison Sentence After Appeal Rejection

From Der Spiegel · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • Iran's judiciary has upheld a one-year prison sentence for acclaimed director Jafar Panahi.
  • Panahi's appeal was rejected by a Tehran Revolutionary Court, confirming his sentence, a two-year travel ban, and a ban on joining political or social groups.
  • Panahi had previously urged filmmakers to speak out against violence, warning that unchecked violence becomes normalized and contagious.

The Iranian judiciary has confirmed a one-year prison sentence for renowned filmmaker Jafar Panahi, rejecting his appeal. The decision by a Tehran Revolutionary Court upholds the original sentence, which also includes a two-year travel ban and prohibitions on joining political or social organizations.

Panahi's lawyer, Mostafa Nilli, announced that Judge Iman Afshari, known for his harsh rulings against government critics, issued the decision. The European Union has previously imposed sanctions on Afshari.

If the world does not react to this blatant violence today, then not only Iran, but the whole world is in danger.

— Jafar PanahiSpeaking at the European Film Awards about the situation in Iran.

Panahi was initially sentenced in absentia in December of the previous year. He had previously used international platforms, including the European Film Awards ceremony in Berlin last January, to call for action against what he described as "blatant violence."

"If the world does not react to this blatant violence today, then not only Iran, but the whole world is in danger," Panahi stated at the time. He warned that "if violence remains unanswered, it becomes normalized." He further cautioned that normalization leads to the spread and contagion of violence.

If violence remains unanswered, it becomes normalized.

— Jafar PanahiWarning about the consequences of unchecked violence.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Der Spiegel in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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