The director’s lawyer has said that Jafar Panahi has been charged with assembling, colluding and disseminating propaganda against the regime. He is banned from making or writing films, giving interviews to domestic or international media or leaving the country for the next 20 years.
French Culture Minister, Frederic Mitterrand, condemned the Iranian filmmaker’s jail sentences in a statement, describing it as a “pseudo-judgment.”
He added that he condemns the “unacceptable attack” on freedom of expression.
Mr. Panahi was arrested earlier this year along with his family members after intelligence agents raided his residence. He spent some time this year in prison, where he launched a hunger strike and was later released.
One of his colleagues, Mohammad Rasoul-Of has also been sentenced to 6 years in prison.