Renowned Iranian Film Director Freed On Bail

Jafar Panahi

Renowned Iranian film director Jafar Panahi, who has been on hunger strike for more than a week, was reportedly released today on bail of about $200,000.

Panahi, winner of many international awards and a supporter of opposition leader Mir Hossein Musavi in last year's disputed presidential election, was arrested in March along with his wife and daughter.

His family was later freed.

Iran's IRNA news agency said that despite his release, the office of Tehran's prosecutor said his case and the indictment against him would be submitted to the capital's Revolutionary Court, suggesting he may still face trial.

It did not give further details.

Panahi, whose films portray ordinary life in Iran, often examining social issues faced by women in the conservative Islamic state, had been due to sit on the jury of the 2010 Cannes film festival.

Meanwhile, reports have surfaced that another prominent Iranian filmmaker, Mohammad Noorizad, has been beaten in Evin prison while on a hunger strike.

compiled from agency reports