Iranian Director Mohammad Rasoulof Sentenced to Prison, Flogging Ahead of Cannes

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Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof has been sentenced by the Islamic Revolutionary Court to 8 years successful prison, flogging, and confiscation of property. The ruling came down conscionable days earlier the commencement of the Cannes Film Festival, wherever Rasoulof is premiering his newest movie successful competition, The Seed of the Sacred Fig. According to translated tweets from Rasoulof’s lawyer, Babak Paknia, helium was sentenced for “signing statements and making films and documentaries,” which the tribunal sees arsenic “examples of collusion with the volition of committing a transgression against the country’s security.”

This ruling is conscionable the latest enactment of persecution by the Iranian authorities against Rasoulof, who has been arrested galore times for his films’ alleged “propaganda against the system.” His enactment deals with topics including superior punishment and the persecution of writers. One specified film, A Man of Integrity, won Un Certain Regard astatine Cannes successful 2017. Authorities confiscated Rasoulof’s passport and banned him from leaving the state that aforesaid year. In 2023, helium was invited to service connected the Un Certain Regard assemblage but was banned from traveling overseas yet again connected charges of “propaganda against the regime” for his 2022 posts criticizing authorities unit against protesters. Iranian filmmakers Jafar Panahi and Mostafa al-Ahmad were besides jailed during this question of crackdowns against dissenting speech. At the time, the International Coalition for Filmmakers astatine Risk issued a connection directed astatine the Iranian government, titled “Let Mohammad Rasoulof Go!” Panahi was released from situation successful March 2023 aft going connected hunger strike. Rasoulof is not yet successful situation pursuing this latest sentencing.