The renowned Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof has been sentenced to eight years in prison and lashings just before his planned trip to the Cannes film festival. Rasoulof, 51, is best known for his film 'There Is No Evil' and has now become the latest artist to be targeted in a broader crackdown on dissent in the Islamic Republic following years of mass protests.
Iranian authorities have not officially acknowledged the sentence, but Rasoulof, along with other artists, had signed a letter urging authorities to 'put your gun down' during demonstrations over a 2022 building collapse in Abadan that claimed at least 29 lives. Since then, various individuals, including artists, athletes, and celebrities, have faced questioning or prison sentences.
