An Oscar-nominated screenwriter has been detained in Iran just days after publicly criticising the country's leadership and its violent response to protests. Mehdi Mahmoudian, who co-wrote the script for the Iranian drama It Was Just An Accident, was arrested in Tehran on Saturday according to representatives of the film.
Political Statement Precedes Arrest
The arrest follows Mahmoudian's participation in signing a statement that condemned Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the regime's crackdown on protesters. In the strongly worded declaration, Mahmoudian and sixteen other signatories described the government's actions as "an organised state crime against humanity."
Among the other signatories were journalist Vida Rabbani and human rights activist Abdullah Momeni, who have also reportedly been arrested. The statement specifically referenced what it called "the mass and systematic killing of citizens who bravely took to the streets to bring an end to an illegitimate regime."
Oscar Recognition and Covert Filmmaking
Mahmoudian's arrest comes at a particularly significant moment as It Was Just An Accident is nominated for two Academy Awards in March - best screenplay and best international film. The film was created under challenging circumstances, having been filmed covertly within Iran itself.
The drama was inspired by director Jafar Panahi's most recent period of imprisonment, where he first met Mahmoudian. Panahi has described his co-writer as "a pillar" to fellow prisoners during their time incarcerated together.
Director's Response and Personal Risk
Panahi, who also signed the critical statement, has strongly condemned Mahmoudian's detention. He characterised the screenwriter as "a rare moral presence... whose absence is immediately felt, both inside the prison walls and beyond them."
The acclaimed filmmaker has continued his work despite facing various restrictions including imprisonment, house arrest, and travel bans. Last year, Panahi received another one-year prison sentence for what authorities described as "propaganda activities against the system." Remarkably, despite this pending sentence, Panahi has stated his intention to return to Iran after travelling internationally to promote their Oscar-nominated film.
Broader Context of Protest Crackdown
The statement signed by Mahmoudian and others addresses what they term a "savage massacre" of protesters by Iranian authorities. Estimates regarding the death toll from recent protests vary significantly between different sources.
Human rights organisations and medical professionals have provided figures ranging from over 5,000 at the more conservative end to approximately 33,000 according to one count. Some unverified claims have even suggested numbers as high as 50,000 fatalities, though these remain uncorroborated.
It remains unclear what specific charges Mahmoudian faces following his arrest on Saturday. The detention of creative professionals who express political dissent continues to draw international attention to Iran's human rights record, particularly as the country's filmmakers receive global recognition through prestigious awards ceremonies.
