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Oscar-Nominated Screenwriter Mehdi mahmoudian Arrested in Iran After Condemning Government Crackdown
The U.S. distributor of the critically acclaimed film It Was Just an Accident, Neon, confirmed the arrest of Mehdi Mahmoudian, the film’s Oscar-nominated co-screenwriter, in Tehran on Thursday. Mahmoudian was taken into custody following his signature on a statement sharply condemning the actions of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, during the recent violent suppression of government protests.
Mahmoudian was arrested alongside fellow signatories Vida Rabbani and Abdullah momeni, according to Neon. A total of 17 individuals, including acclaimed director Jafar Panahi – currently promoting It Was Just an Accident internationally – and Mohammad Rasoulof, director of the 2025 Oscar-nominated The Seed of the Sacred Fig who now resides in exile in Germany, added their names to the protest letter. the list of signatories also includes Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi and Nasrin Sotoudeh, recipient of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.
Iranian authorities have yet to publicly acknowledge the arrests or disclose any details regarding the charges against those detained.
The statement, signed by the group, directly accuses Khamenei of authorizing the “mass and systematic killing of citizens” during the crackdown on protests earlier this month. While the Iranian government acknowledges over 3,000 deaths, human rights organizations estimate the actual number to be in the tens of thousands.
It Was Just an Accident, Panahi’s frist film released after serving a prison sentence in Iran on charges of “propaganda” against the regime, garnered notable international recognition, winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes last year and receiving two Academy Award nominations for best original screenplay and best international feature. The film explores the complex moral landscape of a former political prisoner contemplating revenge against his former jailer. It was co-written by Panahi, Mahmoudian, Nader Saeiver, and Shadhmer Rastin.
Panahi, in a statement released following Mahmoudian’s arrest, described his former fellow inmate as a pillar of strength and compassion within the prison system. “I met Mehdi Mahmoudian in prison,” Panahi wrote. “From the very first days, he stood out-not only because of his calm demeanor and kind conduct but also because of a rare sense of duty toward others.” He recounted how Mahmoudian consistently offered support and reassurance to new prisoners, becoming a trusted confidant for inmates from all backgrounds.
Their collaboration extended beyond their shared imprisonment. Panahi explained that after Mahmoudian’s release, he sought his expertise in refining the dialogue for It Was Just an Accident. “His nine years of imprisonment had given him direct,lived knowledge of the judicial system and prison life,” Panahi stated. “Also, his extensive fieldwork in human rights had made him a reliable and authoritative source for consultation.”
Panahi further detailed Mahmoudian’s crucial contribution to a particularly challenging scene in the film. “I remember during the shooting of It Was Just an Accident we filmed the 13-minute shot of tying the interrogator to a tree one night, from dusk to dawn, but it didn’t
