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December 21, 2010

Iranian Filmmaker Sentenced to Six Years in Jail 
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Iran has sentenced a prominent filmmaker to six years in jail and banned
him from shooting films or scriptwriting for 20 years. Jafar Panahi is a
celebrated filmmaker who has won awards at the Chicago, Cannes and
Berlin film festivals for his films The Circle and Offside. Panahi was
jailed after being accused of gathering and carrying out propaganda
against the system. Last year he publicly supported the opposition in
Iran's disputed presidential election. In addition, another young
Iranian director, Mohammad Rasoulof, has also been sentenced to six
years in jail on similar charges.



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