LBCI

Iranian film director Jafar Panahi starts hunger strike in prison

Middle East

02-02-2023 | 09:14

Share

Share

Iranian film director Jafar Panahi starts hunger strike in prison

2^min

Iranian film director Jafar Panahi has started a hunger strike in prison to protest against authorities' refusal to release him temporarily on bail pending retrial, the activist HRANA news agency reported on Thursday.

Panahi was detained in July and told he would serve a six-year prison sentence originally issued by a Tehran court in 2010, amid a stepped-up crackdown on dissent in the Islamic Republic.

"According to the law, I should have been released on bail after my request for retrial was accepted but my case has been delayed for more than 100 days," the 62-year-old film director wrote in a letter, according to HRANA.

"This is in stark contrast with the speedy trials of innocent youth which are brought to the gallows 30 days after their arrest," added the director, who won the Cannes Film Festival’s Camera d’Or prize for his 1995 movie "White Balloon".

There was no immediate reaction to the HRANA report from Iranian authorities on state media.

Iran's judiciary said in July Panahi would serve a six-year sentence over charges of "propaganda against the system" and inciting opposition protests after the 2009 election that led to months of political turmoil.

Since then, nationwide protests sparked by the death in police custody of Kurdish Iranian young woman Mahsa Amini on Sept. 16 2022 have represented one of the toughest challenges to the Islamic Republic.

At least four people have been hanged since the demonstrations started, according to the judiciary. Iran has accused foreign enemies of fomenting the unrest.

Panahi has won several international awards, including the 2015 Berlin Film Festival's Golden Bear for his film "Taxi".

Iran

Prisoner

Hunger Strike

Film

Director

Jafar Panahi

Prison

Subscribe to our VOD

SUBSCRIBE

Our visitors readings

Israel's military spokesperson issues evacuation warning for residents in Gaza City

Israel-Gaza War Updates

2025-09-07

Israel's military spokesperson issues evacuation warning for residents in Gaza City

Lebanese customs seize nearly $8 million at Beirut Airport over false declarations — The details

News Bulletin Reports

2025-06-30

Lebanese customs seize nearly $8 million at Beirut Airport over false declarations — The details

Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli ground operation in Gaza City 'in strongest terms'

Israel-Gaza War Updates

07:47

Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli ground operation in Gaza City 'in strongest terms'

Hamas official Ghazi Hamad appears on Al Jazeera after Israel strike on Doha

Middle East News

12:57

Hamas official Ghazi Hamad appears on Al Jazeera after Israel strike on Doha

Videos

Lunar eclipse captivates Lebanon: watch the stunning video

2025-09-07

Lunar eclipse captivates Lebanon: watch the stunning video

LBCI correspondent reports from Nabatieh as residents clear rubble after Israeli strikes

2025-08-31

LBCI correspondent reports from Nabatieh as residents clear rubble after Israeli strikes

Unprecedented step: Lebanon funds kidney transplants for all qualified patients

2025-08-29

Unprecedented step: Lebanon funds kidney transplants for all qualified patients

US envoy Barrack clarifies ‘animalistic’ comment, says media ‘just doing their job’

2025-08-28

US envoy Barrack clarifies ‘animalistic’ comment, says media ‘just doing their job’

US congressional delegation in Beirut discusses disarmament of Hezbollah, LAF support, Israeli perspective

2025-08-26

US congressional delegation in Beirut discusses disarmament of Hezbollah, LAF support, Israeli perspective

40 years of LBCI: A look back at its milestones

News Bulletin Reports

2025-08-23

40 years of LBCI: A look back at its milestones

President Aoun: Hezbollah's weapons are an internal matter, US proposal is now a Lebanese paper

2025-08-17

President Aoun: Hezbollah's weapons are an internal matter, US proposal is now a Lebanese paper

Pregnant journalist Petra Abou Haidar attacked in road rage assault

2025-07-15

Pregnant journalist Petra Abou Haidar attacked in road rage assault

Massive fire erupts at unregulated dumpsite in Bchannine, Zgharta district

2025-07-01

Massive fire erupts at unregulated dumpsite in Bchannine, Zgharta district

Most read

24 hours

7 days

Month

Hezbollah MP says Israel creating buffer zone as Lebanon’s government ‘fails’ to act

1

Hezbollah MP says Israel creating buffer zone as Lebanon’s government ‘fails’ to act

Hezbollah’s Naim Qassem hails pager blast wounded as ‘light guiding the path’

2

Hezbollah’s Naim Qassem hails pager blast wounded as ‘light guiding the path’

Retired soldiers block roads with burning tires in Beirut and Tripoli (Video)

3

Retired soldiers block roads with burning tires in Beirut and Tripoli (Video)

Beirut Port explosion investigation turns a corner with arrest of MV Rhosus owner

4

Beirut Port explosion investigation turns a corner with arrest of MV Rhosus owner

Israeli airstrike targets car in Baalbek, casualties reported

5

Israeli airstrike targets car in Baalbek, casualties reported

Israeli airstrike kills two in Baalbek: Health Ministry

6

Israeli airstrike kills two in Baalbek: Health Ministry

A year later: Inside Israel’s unprecedented pager attack on Hezbollah

7

A year later: Inside Israel’s unprecedented pager attack on Hezbollah

High-stakes Israeli-Syrian security talks held in London ahead of UN summit

8

High-stakes Israeli-Syrian security talks held in London ahead of UN summit

Download now the LBCI mobile app

To see the latest news, the latest daily programs in Lebanon and the world

Google Play

App Store

Download now the LBCI mobile app

We use
cookies

We use cookies to make
your experience on this
website better.

Accept

Learn More