An Iranian screenwriter, recognized for his work on an Academy Award-nominated film, has been released from custody after being held for over two weeks. Mehdi Mahmoudian was detained in Tehran following his endorsement of a public declaration critical of the country’s leadership and its response to recent civil unrest.
Mahmoudian, along with two other signatories, Vida Rabbani and Abdollah Momeni, was granted release on bail from a detention facility. Official charges related to the arrest have not been publicly detailed.
The screenwriter is a co-writer of the film It Was Just an Accident, which is contending for Oscars in both the Best Original Screenplay and Best International Feature categories. The film’s director, Jafar Panahi, who has also faced imprisonment, issued a statement characterizing the arrests as an attempt to suppress peaceful expression and criminalize dissent.
Mahmoudian has a history of political activism and prior incarcerations. His recent detention coincides with a period of heightened international scrutiny regarding Iran’s internal security measures. The situation has drawn commentary from foreign leaders, with some advocating for political change within the country.
The release on bail concludes a brief but closely watched detention, highlighting ongoing tensions between state authorities and voices of criticism within Iran’s artistic and civil society circles.
