Iranian Filmmaker Jafar Panahi Arrested In Tehran

Jafar Panahi at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival, where his film "Offside" was screening. Photo by Brian Brooks/indieWIRE.

AFP is reporting that prominent Iranian director Jafar Panahi ("Offside", "The Circle") was arrested today, along with his wife and daughter, at a ceremony where mourners gathered to commemorate slain election protesters. AFP notes that "Panahi is a vocal critic of Iran hardliners and his movies have been banned for a decade from domestic cinemas despite their international success." Several other mourners were also arrested by Iranian riot police. They were marking the 40th day since the death of Neda Agha-Soltan, a woman "who came to symbolise the protest movement against the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad."

The Times Online is also covering the events, while The New York Times is running a constantly updated blog on the protests, including information about Panahi.

News

get email updates on News