Oscar-Nominated Screenwriter Released from Iranian Prison After Condemning Regime Crackdown
Mehdi Mahmoudian, the Oscar-nominated co-writer of the film It Was Just an Accident, has been released from an Iranian prison after 17 days in detention. His arrest followed his signing of a statement that condemned the violent crackdown on demonstrators by the regime of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Arrest and Release Details
According to local media reports, Mahmoudian was arrested in Tehran shortly after endorsing the critical statement. He was released on Tuesday from Nowshahr prison, along with two other signatories, Vida Rabbani and Abdollah Momeni. All three individuals were freed on bail, although specific charges against Mahmoudian have not been disclosed at this time.
The statement signed by Mahmoudian explicitly criticized Khamenei and the government's harsh response to recent protests. In Iran, such actions often lead to accusations like "insulting the Supreme Leader" or "propaganda against the Islamic Republic," charges that have historically been used to suppress dissent.
Background and Activism
Mahmoudian is not only a screenwriter but also a known political activist with a history of imprisonment. He previously served a five-year sentence that ended in 2014 on charges of "mutiny against the regime." His connection to director Jafar Panahi, who has also faced imprisonment and house arrest under the Iranian regime, began when they met in prison.
Panahi, in a statement released on Tuesday, emphasized the peaceful nature of Mahmoudian's actions: "Mehdi Mahmoudian, Vida Rabbani, and Abdollah Momeni peacefully exercised their right to express their views, but the regime responded by accusing them... Turning a civil and peaceful act into a national security case is a clear sign of intolerance toward the independent voices of citizens."
Film Recognition and International Context
It Was Just an Accident is a revenge drama inspired by Panahi's own experiences in jail. The film has received significant acclaim, earning nominations for Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards, with Mahmoudian sharing the nomination with Nader Saeivar, Shadmehr Rastin, and Panahi. Additionally, it is nominated for Best International Feature as a submission from France.
This release occurs against a backdrop of escalating tensions in Iran. Last month, nationwide protests resulted in thousands of deaths, drawing international condemnation. Global pressure has intensified, highlighted by mass protests in Munich and comments from U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested that regime change in Iran "would be the best thing that could happen."
The case underscores ongoing challenges to free expression in Iran, where artistic and political dissent frequently intersect, leading to arrests and imprisonment under the current regime.
