Renowned Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, 65, has been sentenced in absentia by Tehran’s Revolutionary Court to one year in prison, a two‑year travel ban and a ban on political and social group membership for alleged “propaganda activities against the system.” The ruling comes as his Cannes‑winning film “It Was Just an Accident” garners major international awards and renews focus on Iran’s assault on artistic freedom.
Screenshot from Hengaw.net
Iranian security forces arrested young Kurdish singer and cultural activist Asmar Hamidi during a raid on her family home in North Khorasan, transferring her to an undisclosed location without charges. Authorities later blocked her social media accounts, erasing her artistic platform. Her case reflects escalating pressure on women artists, Kurdish identity, and all who use culture for peaceful expression. Following the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests, musicians face intimidation and prosecution under vague security charges.
Traditional musician Abbas Peymani was arrested by Iran’s IRGC Intelligence in Shahriar after criticizing political and economic conditions on social media. Taken to an undisclosed location with no public charges, his fate remains unknown, raising fears of enforced disappearance. Rights monitors say the case reflects a wider crackdown on artists, where peaceful expression is treated as a security threat and cultural voices are silenced.
Since October 2025, Iranian authorities have arrested at least five rappers and a composer, targeting minority artists from Ahwazi Arab and Kurdish communities. Forced confessions and public apologies, circulated online and via state-linked channels, expose a systematic campaign of intimidation. Human rights groups report beatings, denial of legal counsel, and coercion, highlighting a broader pattern of repression against artists and activists across Iran.
Iranian filmmakers face significant challenges due to strict censorship, which limits creative freedom and forces many to produce films in secret or leave the country. Nina Zarabi's story highlights these challenges
Iranian singer Amir Tataloo's death sentence sparks global outcry over blasphemy and freedom of expression
