In Iran , director

Jafar Panahi

, sentenced to six years in prison, announced a hunger strike.

He is protesting his detention in prison after his lawyer successfully contested the detention, Radio Farda reports.

Panakhi is one of the most famous Iranian film directors.

His films received awards at the Berlin and Cannes Film Festivals, the "Golden Leopard" award at the Lacarno Festival, and the "Golden Lion" at the Venice Film Festival.

In May last year, Panakhi signed an open letter condemning the increasing repression against freedom of speech and creativity in the country.

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In July 2022, Panakhi was detained in Tehran.

The court sentenced the director to six years in prison on charges of supporting anti-government protests in 2010 and "propaganda against the system."

Iranian authorities said they decided to reinstate a 2010 conviction because Panahi attended the funeral of a student shot dead during anti-government protests in Tehran in 2009 and attempted to film the events.

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