Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi intends to return to Iran once the Oscar season concludes, despite the risk of arrest due to a government crackdown following widespread anti-government protests that resulted in thousands of casualties. Panahi, an Oscar-nominated director, was sentenced in absentia to one year in prison in Iran for “propaganda activities” against the country. He confirmed his plan to return to Iran after the completion of the film’s Oscar campaign in an interview with Radio Atlantic.
Panahi’s lawyer, Mostafa Nili, mentioned that the sentencing also includes a two-year travel ban within Iran and a prohibition from joining any political or social organizations. Panahi, along with other prominent figures, expressed support for the protests against the Islamic Republic regime in a statement earlier this year.
His film, “It Was Just an Accident,” garnered two Oscar nominations for best international feature film and best original screenplay. The movie, inspired by Panahi’s personal experiences of imprisonment and encounters in Tehran’s Evin Prison, won the Palme D’Or at the Cannes Film Festival last year.
Panahi emphasized his role as a socially engaged filmmaker rather than a political one, reflecting on the risks taken during the filming process. His co-writer on the film, Mehdi Mahmoudian, and journalist Vida Rabbani, faced detention in Iran after signing a similar letter of support for the protests.
Recent reports have highlighted the severe abuse faced by detainees, including Nobel Peace laureate Narges Mohammadi, who received an extended prison sentence. The death toll from the protests in Iran has surpassed 7,000, with continued tensions both domestically and internationally as negotiations proceed over Iran’s nuclear program.
Human rights agencies have called for the release of detained individuals and highlighted the ongoing mistreatment and abuse faced by activists. The situation remains volatile, with challenges in communication and verification of information within the country.