Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Lawyer Says Award-Winning Iran Filmmaker Summoned to Prison
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 5 years ago on
March 4, 2020

Share

TEHRAN, Iran — An Iranian filmmaker who just won the Berlin Film Festival’s Golden Bear has been summoned to serve a one-year prison sentence over his movies, his lawyer said Wednesday.

Rasoulof will not turn himself into authorities and will appeal the order, especially given the ongoing coronavirus outbreak in Iran, the lawyer said. 
Mohammad Rasoulof’s sentence came from three films he made that authorities found to be “propaganda against the system,” his lawyer Nasser Zarafshan told The Associated Press. Rasoulof’s sentence also included an order than he stop his filmmaking for two years as well, the lawyer said.
The filmmaker received the order via a text message from the judiciary, Zarafshan said. Rasoulof will not turn himself into authorities and will appeal the order, especially given the ongoing coronavirus outbreak in Iran, the lawyer said. Authorities already sent 54,000 prisoners on temporary furlough over concerns about the virus spreading through the country’s prison system.
There was no immediate state media report about Rasoulof’s summons, nor any comment from judiciary officials.
Photo of Actress Baran Rasoulof
Actress Baran Rasoulof, holds The Golden Bear for Best Film in place of director Mohammad Rasoulof, who did not attend, for the film ‘Sheytan vojud nadarad’ (There Is No Evil) after the award ceremony at the 70th International Berlinale Film Festival in Berlin, Germany. Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

Rasoulf Has Faced Problems Before for His Work in Iran

Rasoulof just won the Berlin Film Festival’s top prize for his film “There Is No Evil.” The film tells four stories loosely connected to the use of the death penalty in Iran and dealing with personal freedom under tyranny.
Rasoulof wasn’t there to accept the award Saturday due to a travel ban imposed on him by Iranian authorities.
Organizers left an empty chair and name sign for Rasoulof at the news conference for his entry. Germany’s dpa news agency reported that Rasoulof’s daughter, Baran, accepted the Golden Bear award on his behalf.
Rasoulf has faced problems before for his work in Iran. In 2011, Rasoulof and fellow director Jafar Panahi were arrested in Iran for filming without a permit. The pair received six years in prison and were banned from filmmaking for 20 years on charges that included “making propaganda” against the ruling system, but Rasoulof’s sentence was later reduced to a year on appeal.
His film “Goodbye” won a prize at Cannes in 2011, but the director wasn’t allowed to travel to France to accept it

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Cuomo Concedes to Mamdani in New York City Democratic Mayoral Contest

DON'T MISS

Mamdani Holds Lead Over Cuomo in Democratic Primary for NYC Mayor

DON'T MISS

Fresno County’s New Breeding Ordinance Could Shut Down 50 Operations

DON'T MISS

NATO Leaders Set to Back Trump Defense Spending Goal at Hague Summit

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Wildfire Quickly Contained. How Did They Do It?

DON'T MISS

Lender’s Intervention Halts City of Fresno’s Eviction Attempt at Granite Park

DON'T MISS

Clovis Unified Faces Lawsuit Alleging Years of Neglect and Sexual Abuse at Fancher Creek

DON'T MISS

Suspect in Bombing at California Fertility Clinic Dies in Federal Custody

DON'T MISS

US Airstrikes Failed to Destroy Iran’s Nuclear Sites, Sources Say

DON'T MISS

Stephen Miller Expands Power in Second Trump Term, Defies Legal Limits

UP NEXT

Mariska Hargitay Comes to Terms With a Lifetime of Family Secrets

UP NEXT

The Secret to Finding the Best Travel Bargains

UP NEXT

Amazon’s Prime Day 2025 Levels Up With Four Days of Deals Starting July 8

UP NEXT

Fresno Now Has a Professional Shakespeare Co. Thanks to Measure P Sales Tax

UP NEXT

Hips Don’t Lie, and Neither Do Ticket Sales: Shakira Adds Fresno Show

UP NEXT

Canseco, Cheechoo to Sign Autographs When Chukchansi Cuts Ribbon on Top Golf

UP NEXT

Netflix Set to Launch Third Themed Venue in Las Vegas

UP NEXT

‘GTA VI’ Delay Weighs on Global Videogame Market Growth, Data Shows

UP NEXT

Protester Killed at Utah ‘No Kings’ Rally Was Fashion Designer From ‘Project Runway’

UP NEXT

Five Weeknight Dishes: Seven Ingredients or Fewer, Because Summer

Three Mile Island Nuclear Plant Reboot Fast-Tracked to 2027

43 minutes ago

Democratic Lawmaker Pleads Not Guilty to Assaulting US Agents at Immigration Center

51 minutes ago

Israeli Spy Chief Commends Agents for Iran Mission, Vows to Remain Vigilant

1 hour ago

All NATO, Including US, ‘Totally Committed’ to Keeping Ukraine in Fight, Rutte Says

1 hour ago

Can New Star Zohran Mamdani Help Guide the Democratic Party Out of the Darkness?

2 hours ago

Teamsters President Urges Congress to Scrap AI State Law Ban

2 hours ago

Fresno Residents Join Nationwide Fast to Call Attention to Gaza Crisis

3 hours ago

SoCal Vice Mayor Urges Street Gang ‘Cholos’ to Rise Up Against ICE

3 hours ago

UK Says It’s Buying 12 F-35A Stealth Jets That Can Carry Nuclear Weapons

3 hours ago

California Cops Save Baby Trapped in Hot Car

3 hours ago

Upscale Woodward Park Area Apartments Sell for $19 Million

A 64-unit luxury apartment complex near Woodward Park closed escrow recently, selling for $19 million. Real estate company Northmarq brokere...

9 minutes ago

9 minutes ago

Upscale Woodward Park Area Apartments Sell for $19 Million

31 minutes ago

Wired Wednesday: Learn the Latest on the Caleb Quick Murder Hearings

42 minutes ago

Trump Administration Orders CA to Strip Trans Athlete of Medals

A cooling tower is seen at the Three Mile Island Nuclear power plant, during a tour by Constellation Energy in Middletown, Pennsylvania, U.S., October 16, 2024. (File Photo)
43 minutes ago

Three Mile Island Nuclear Plant Reboot Fast-Tracked to 2027

Democratic U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) speaks outside United States Court, after pleading not guilty on three counts of "forcibly impeding and interfering" with federal law enforcement after a scuffle at the gate of a privately run immigration detention center on May 9, in Newark, New Jersey, U.S., June 25, 2025. (Reuters/Mike Segar)
51 minutes ago

Democratic Lawmaker Pleads Not Guilty to Assaulting US Agents at Immigration Center

David Barnea, the head of the Israeli Mossad attends an honor guard ceremony for Israel's incoming military chief Herzi Halevi at Israel's Defence Ministry in Tel Aviv, Israel January 16, 2023. (Reuters/Amir Cohen)
1 hour ago

Israeli Spy Chief Commends Agents for Iran Mission, Vows to Remain Vigilant

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte holds a press conference ahead of a NATO summit, in The Hague, Netherlands June 23, 2025. (Reuters/Yves Herman)
1 hour ago

All NATO, Including US, ‘Totally Committed’ to Keeping Ukraine in Fight, Rutte Says

Zohran Mamdani Speaks to Supporters
2 hours ago

Can New Star Zohran Mamdani Help Guide the Democratic Party Out of the Darkness?

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend