Co-Writer of Oscar-Contending Film Detained in Tehran Following Political Statement
Mehdi Mahmoudian, a co-writer of the Oscar-nominated film It Was Just an Accident, has been arrested in Tehran just weeks before the Academy Awards ceremony. The detention occurred after Mahmoudian signed a statement that directly condemned Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, for the recent bloodshed in the country.
Statement Blames Leadership for Atrocities
The human rights campaigner was detained on Saturday after putting his signature to a document that stated "the primary responsibility for these atrocities lies with Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, and the repressive structure of the regime." Two additional signatories from the group of seventeen, Vida Rabbani and Abdullah Momeni, have also been arrested. Iranian authorities have not yet released any information regarding the specific charges against the detained individuals.
Film's Prestigious Background and Oscar Prospects
It Was Just an Accident is a significant cinematic work that won the prestigious Palme d'Or at the Cannes film festival in 2025. The film is currently a contender for two Academy Awards: Best International Feature Film and Best Original Screenplay, with the Oscars ceremony scheduled for 15 March. The narrative follows a group of Iranian former political prisoners who grapple with the decision of whether to seek revenge on a man they believe tortured them during their incarceration.
Mahmoudian's Personal Experience Informs Screenplay
Mahmoudian, primarily known as a journalist and human rights activist, drew upon his own nine-year experience of life behind bars to refine the dialogue in the screenplay. He first met the film's director, veteran auteur Jafar Panahi, while both were imprisoned. In a statement shared with the Guardian, Panahi praised Mahmoudian's "calm demeanor," "kind conduct," and "rare sense of responsibility toward others."
Panahi elaborated, "Whenever a new prisoner arrived, Mehdi would try to provide them with basic necessities and, more importantly, offer reassurance. He became a quiet pillar inside the prison – someone inmates of all beliefs and backgrounds trusted and confided in." Following Mahmoudian's release, Panahi invited him to contribute to the screenplay, leveraging his profound firsthand knowledge of prison life.
Context of Recent Unrest in Iran
The arrests occur against a backdrop of significant political tension in Iran. Major protests against the regime's handling of the country's deepening economic crisis erupted in several regions in late December. The government responded with an internet blackout and severe crackdowns. The official death toll released by Iran's Martyr's Foundation stands at 3,117, including members of the security services. However, networks of medical professionals both inside and outside Iran have estimated that the actual number of fatalities could exceed 30,000.
Panahi concluded his statement by emphasising Mahmoudian's broader role: "Mehdi Mahmoudian is not just a human rights activist and a prisoner of conscience; he is a witness, a listener, and a rare moral presence – a presence whose absence is immediately felt, both inside prison walls and beyond them." The international film community now watches closely as this personal and political drama unfolds ahead of the Oscars.
