On March 1, 2010, Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi was arrested on charges of "propaganda against the Islamic Republic" (speaking out on behalf of those protesting the re-election of Ahmadinejad), and was sentenced to six years behind bars, banned from making films for 20 years. While the prison sentence was suspended, officials have still forbade him from directing movies, writing screenplays, giving interviews or leaving the country.