Iranian Writers' Association Calls for Release of Filmmaker

The Iranian Writers' Association has condemned the eight-year prison sentence, whipping, and fine handed to dissident filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof.

The association has demanded the "immediate and unconditional" cancellation of the sentence, which includes property confiscation, highlighting a broader trend of crackdowns on freedom of expression within the country.

In a public statement, the association, of which Rasoulof is an honorary member, labeled the verdict as part of a "new wave of intimidation and suppression" of individual freedoms in Iran.

The group asserted that Rasoulof has not committed any offenses warranting such punishments, criticizing the regime for protecting those "who have been busy plundering the wealth, security, and freedom of the people" for over four decades.

This latest sentence continues a history of penalties for Rasoulof, who was first imprisoned in 2010 and banned from filmmaking for creating work deemed anti-regime by the authorities. His sentence was later reduced on appeal.

Despite state intimidation, Rasoulof continued to create impactful cinema, including his 2020 film There Is No Evil, which won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. The film critiques the oppressive measures of the Iranian regime.

In 2022, Rasoulof was again arrested after he publicly criticized the military and security forces for their role in suppressing dissent and urged them not to act against protesters.

His latest film, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, is set to be screened at this year's Cannes Film Festival, highlighting his ongoing commitment to addressing social issues through cinema.

He is one in a long line of artists including death-row rapper Toomaj Salehi to be give disproportionate sentences for dissent amid the regime’s crackdown which has worsened since the 2022 uprising.