"A co-writer of Oscar-nominated film It Was Just an Accident has been arrested in Teheran just weeks before the Academy Awards, after signing a statement that condemned Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, for the recent bloodshed in the country. Human rights campaigner Mehdi Mahmoudian was detained on Saturday after putting his signature to a statement that said the primary responsibility for these atrocities lies with Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, and the repressive structure of the regime."
"Whenever a new prisoner arrived, Mehdi would try to provide them with basic necessities and, more importantly, offer reassurance, Panahi said. He became a quiet pillar inside the prison someone inmates of all beliefs and backgrounds trusted and confided in. After Mahmoudian's release, the film-maker asked him to refine the dialogue on his screenplay, drawing on his nine-year experience of life behind bars."
Mehdi Mahmoudian, a human rights campaigner and co-writer of It Was Just an Accident, was arrested in Teheran after signing a statement that placed primary responsibility for recent atrocities on Ali Khamenei and the regime. Two other signatories, Vida Rabbani and Abdullah Momeni, were also detained. Authorities have not released information on charges. The film won the Palme d'Or at Cannes 2025 and is nominated for Oscars including best international feature and best screenplay. The film follows former political prisoners debating revenge. Mahmoudian, a journalist and former prisoner, helped refine the screenplay using his nine years behind bars; Jafar Panahi praised his calm demeanor and supportive role to fellow inmates.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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