The Appellate Court of Tehran has confirmed the initial verdict against the acclaimed film director Mohammad Rasoulof.
Rasoulof’s lawyer, Babak Paknia, announced that Rasoulof faces a sentence of eight years in prison, in addition to flogging, a monetary fine, and the confiscation of his property. The enforcement of five years of this sentence has been authorized by the executive branch of the Department of Justice.
Paknia stated that Rasoulof was found guilty of “assembly and collusion against national security.” The charges were based on “petitioning through open statements and his work in producing and directing documentaries.”
It should also be noted that this is not Rasoulof’s first encounter with the legal system; he has been arrested and convicted previously.