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TEHRAN — Famed Iranian film director Jafar Panahi, who has been held in Tehran since March 1 and on hunger strike for six days, is to hear on Saturday whether he will be granted bail, his wife and his lawyer said.
The two women, who were both able to visit Panahi in the Iranian capital's Evin prison on Thursday, said they were hopeful that the Tehran revolutionary court would order the director released until his trial date.
Lawyer Farideh Gheirat told AFP on Friday: "Based on the promise I got (from the judiciary), I am hopeful that he will be released until the date set for his trial.
"I am very optimistic," she added. "Since I was told that his case will be handed to the revolutionary court on Saturday, I think the release will be very soon."
Panahi's wife Tahereh Saeedi, who visited her husband along with their son and daughter, voiced similar optimism.
Saeedi said that Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, who was present at their prison meeting with her husband, had said that the bail application might be successful.
"We were told that on Saturday the judge handling Jafar's case will see the case and if he has a favourable opinion Jafar could be released," she told AFP.
"It was good day for Jafar since he saw us, he was able to talk to his lawyer and his case is going to be referred to a revolutionary court," she added.