Iranian Filmmaker Jafar Panahi Wants to Return Home Despite Prison Sentence

Rabat: Acclaimed Iranian director Jafar Panahi has announced his intention to return to Iran despite being sentenced to a year in prison for ‘conducting propaganda activities’. The Palme d'Or winner at the Cannes Film Festival made the statement at the Marrakech International Film Festival, emphasizing his loyalty to his country.

“I only have one passport. It's my country's passport, and I intend to keep it,” Panahi said, expressing his commitment to returning home after his international tour. His lawyer, Mustafa Nili, has announced plans to appeal the sentence, which also includes a two-year travel ban and a prohibition from joining any political or social group.

Panahi, 65, has a history of facing persecution in Iran, having served two previous prison sentences and being banned from leaving the country for 15 years. His latest film Just an Accident has garnered international recognition, including the Palme d'Or at Cannes and nominations at the Oscars.

The director, who won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival in 2015 for his film Taxi Tehran, had previously served two prison sentences: the first in 2010 for 86 days, and the second for seven months between 2022 and 2023. He was released after a hunger strike.

The director's decision to return to Iran has sparked concern among human rights organisations, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by artists and dissidents in the country. Panahi's case underscores the complexities of artistic expression and freedom in Iran, where creative voices are often silenced or restricted.