Jafar Panahi (below) was sentenced this week to six years in prison for “colluding in the gathering and making of propaganda against the regime”. He is also banned from making films, writing scripts, travelling abroad and talking to the media for 20 years.
Heavy sentence
“The sentence was served to myself and my client on 18 December, and it is unfortunately, a very heavy sentence,” Farideh Gheirat, defense lawyer of Jafar Panahi told Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA).
Mohammad Rasoulouf’s sentence of six year’s in prison on charges of assembly and collusion and propagation against the regime was also issued. His lawyer told ISNA: “We will object to the issued verdict within the allotted time,” Rasoulof is presently making a film which is pending license at the Ministry of Islamic Guidance.
Index on Censorship in a letter expresses protest at continued and draconian constraints on freedom of expression in Iran and urges Ayatollah Larijani to overturn the convictions and allow Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof to resume their work.
Index on Censorship’s chief executive John Kampfner in a letter to Ayatollah Larijani says:
“We would like to remind you that Iran’s own constitution guarantees the right to freedom of expression, the essential condition for any artist to engage in their work and enjoy the freedom to create. We therefore ask you to guarantee this most fundamental of human rights to Mr Panahi, Mr Rasoulof and all artists, academics and journalists currently facing similar sentences.”
Index on Censorship urges the Iranian government to recognise Jafar Panahi and Mohammad 
Rasoulof as ambassadors for Iran’s creative culture, instead of treating them as criminals.
“The Islamic Republic’s continuing crackdown on artists, journalists and writers can only harm the future of its people,” writes John Kampfner in his letter.
Background
Jafar Panahi is amongst Iran’s leading film directors. His first film “The White Balloon” won the Camera d’Or at the Cannes film festival in 1995 and he was awarded the Golden Lion in 2000 for his film The Circle.
Speaking in support of Jafar Panahi, documentary filmmaker Kim Longinotto said:
“Jafar Panahi has been an inspiration for me and my friends for many years. His poetic, sensitive and gripping films tell complex stories with well-rounded characters that he treats with great affection and respect. His films never tell us what to think, or give easy answers – they allow us to discover things for ourselves. He gives me hope for a future where men and women can truly identify with one another’s experiences”.
Jafar Panahi was arrested on 1 March along with his family and 15 guests at his home; he was released on bail on 25 May, after he had gone on a hunger strike and there had been an international outcry for his release.
Upon his arrest on 2 March, the Tehran Prosecutor told state news agencies: “His arrest is not because he is an artist and is not political, either. This individual is a suspect for some crimes. He and another individual have been arrested with orders from the case judge, and investigations on the matter are continuing.”
It is believed that his detention was part of an ongoing crackdown on 
supporters of the opposition Green Movement and followed a travel ban placed on Panahi after he wore green clothes to the Montreal film festival. His arrest was apparently due to Panahi making a film, inside his home, on the Green Movement demonstrations (left) that followed the contested reelection of President Ahmadinejad in 2009.
An outspoken supporter of the Iranian Green Movement, Panahi had been previously arrested at Tehran’s Behesht-e Zahra Cemetery while laying flowers on the graves of some protesters killed during the post-election demonstrations; he was released within a few hours.
Related links:
ARTICLE 19 Artist Alert – March 2010
Iran: one year after elections – importance of internet and small media
Take action to free Iranian blogger
Free speech organisations call Iran to release blogger Hossein Derakhshan
