Iranian Filmmakers Jailed

Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi has been sentenced to six years behind bars after he was convicted of campaigning against the country's government.

The outspoken director, a critic of the country's strict Islamic laws, went on trial in November (10), accused of making a film without permission and inciting protests by supporters of the opposition following the uproar in the aftermath of the controversial 2009 presidential election.

Panahi was handed the punishment alongside fellow filmmaker Mohammad Rasulov, who was also jailed for six years.

His lawyer, Farideh Gheirat, says, "Mr. Panahi has been sentenced to six years in jail on a charge of (participating) in a gathering and carrying out propaganda against the system.

"He has also been banned from making films, writing any kind of scripts, travelling abroad and talking to local and foreign media for 20 years".