HRANA – Jafar Panahi, an Iranian film director and screenwriter, has been sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to five years and one month in prison, confiscation of all movable and immovable property, a two-year ban on social media activity, and a two-year travel ban. 

According to HRANA, citing Emtedad, Mostafa Nili, Jafar Panahi’s lawyer, has announced that his client has been sentenced to imprisonment and additional penalties in a new case.

Nili stated that Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced his client to five years and one month of discretionary imprisonment and ordered the confiscation of all his movable and immovable assets. Under the ruling, Panahi was also sentenced to a two-year ban on social media activity and a two-year prohibition on leaving the country.

Explaining how he learned of the new case, the lawyer said that last week, after his client’s bank accounts were frozen, he visited the Sentence Enforcement Office of the Culture and Media Prosecutor’s Office, where he discovered that the verdict had been issued in absentia. According to Nili, the case file stated that Panahi was outside Iran, although he had returned to the country on March 30, 2026, during the 40-day war.

Nili also stated that Branch 16 of the Culture and Media Prosecutor’s Office issued an arrest warrant for his client on May 20, 2026, even though Panahi had appeared at Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court that same day for proceedings in another case.

He added that his client had also appeared before Branch 16 of the Culture and Media Prosecutor’s Office in September in connection with another case and currently has three open legal cases. According to the lawyer, Panahi was never notified of the hearing date in the new case, and the verdict was issued in absentia.

Previously, in a separate case, Jafar Panahi was sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to one year in prison, a two-year travel ban, and a prohibition on membership in political and social groups or organizations on charges of “propaganda against the regime.” His request for a retrial in absentia was rejected by the Revolutionary Court in June 2026, and the original verdict was upheld in full.

Panahi has previously faced arrest and legal proceedings in connection with his activities.
Jafar Panahi, born on July 11, 1960, in Mianeh, is an Iranian film director and screenwriter.