In the ensuing trial, the prosecutor sought the death penalty for four of the accused and various prison terms for the others. After a highly publicized legal process, Shirvanlu was initially sentenced to one year in prison, which was later extended to five years by the Court of Appeal in December 1965.
Post-Prison Career: Negareh Institute
After his release, Shirvanlu channeled his energies into the cultural sector. He founded the “Negareh Publishing and Advertising Office,” an enterprise that became a creative hub for young Iranian designers and artists. Among those he recruited were Farshid Moshaghali, Ahmadreza Ahmadi, Farideh Farjam, Abbas Kiarostami, Amir Naderi, and Nikzad Nojomi.
Negareh was a versatile agency involved in everything from advertising to book cover design, film posters, and set decoration. It became a cultural incubator that significantly influenced the visual and cinematic language of modern Iran. Shirvanlu’s leadership emphasized artistic integrity and cultural relevance, values that would become hallmarks of his later work.
Involvement with Kanun
Shirvanlu’s association with Kanun (The Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults) began when Negareh was commissioned to illustrate children’s books. His involvement deepened over time, and he was soon appointed director of Kanun’s publishing department.