Oscar Nominee Arrested After Criticizing Iran’s Leader

An Iranian screenwriter whose film is nominated for two Academy Awards has been detained in Tehran. Mehdi Mahmoudian, co-writer of Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident, was arrested after signing a public statement that holds Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei responsible for a deadly crackdown on protesters, according to Neon, the film’s U.S. distributor. Mahmoudian was reportedly taken into custody along with fellow signatories Vida Rabbani and Abdullah Momeni, Neon said, citing reporting from the Hollywood Reporter. Iranian authorities have not publicly confirmed the arrests or announced any charges.

Seventeen prominent activists and cultural figures signed the letter, including Panahi—who is currently abroad promoting the film—exiled director Mohammad Rasoulof, imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, and human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh. The statement accuses Khamenei and Iran’s ruling system of authorizing “mass and systematic” killings during recent protests, describing the security response as an “organized state crime against humanity.” While the government has acknowledged more than 3,000 deaths, human rights groups have estimated the toll to be far higher. The signatories call for accountability for those responsible, the release of political prisoners, and a national referendum on Iran’s political future.

It Was Just an Accident, which follows former political prisoners debating whether to seek revenge against a man they believe tortured them, is Panahi’s first feature film since his own release from prison on charges of anti-regime “propaganda.” The film won the top prize at last year’s Cannes Film Festival and is nominated for best original screenplay and best international feature at the Oscars. Panahi, who was sentenced in absentia in December to a year in prison and a two-year work ban, has said he intends to return to Iran after awards season to appeal the ruling and face trial. Following Mahmoudian’s arrest, Panahi described his collaborator as “a witness, a listener, and a rare moral presence” who has already spent nine years behind bars.