Acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi has returned to Iran despite the risk of imprisonment, following reports that he faces a one-year jail sentence.
He reportedly entered the country via Turkey earlier this week due to flight restrictions.
Panahi had previously indicated his intention to return after attending international events, even with an active arrest warrant in place. In December, he was sentenced in absentia by an Iranian Revolutionary Court on charges linked to propaganda against the state of Iran.
The case is tied in part to his recent film ‘It Was Just An Accident’, which was produced without official approval.
Reports suggest that members of the production team were detained or questioned during filming, while others were summoned by authorities ahead of the film’s international screenings.
