Top Iranian film director found stabbed to death along with wife after demanding regime to 'silence him'

Dariush Mehrjui, his wife Wahida Mohammadifar and their daughter Mona Photo: AP

Award-winning Iranian film director stabbed to death after challenging the country's theocratic regime to silence his criticism of strict censorship laws.

Dariush Mehrjui, 83, and his wife Wahida Mohammadifar were found dead in their home in a suburb on the western outskirts of Tehran, state media reported on Sunday.

Both were killed.

Mr Fazeli said the director's daughter, Mona Mehrjui, found the bodies when she went to visit her father on Saturday evening.

Homicide investigation

Local authorities said they had opened a murder investigation.

«This incident occurred for an unknown reason by an unknown person or persons, and the motive for the killing is still unknown,» said Hamid Khedavand, commander of the Alborz provincial police.

Last year, Mehrjui publicly criticized the Iranian regime's refusal to grant a license for screening of his latest film, Minor, a drama about a young female musician.

Mr Mehrjui, who has previously criticized restrictions and suppression of the Islamic Republic's media, said he «could not understand» the decision taken by the Culture Ministry and Islamic orientation.

Dariush Mehrjui during a break from filming “The Pear Tree,” Tehran, 1999. Photo: Kaveh Kazemi

Mohammad Reza Faraji, an Iranian Film Organization official, was quoted in Iranian media at the time as saying that the film's screening permit, issued in 2019, had expired and its premiere could not take place as planned during Norouz , Persian New Year, in March. 2022

“From now on, I declare war on you and your organization,” Mr. Mehrjui said in a video posted online.

“You can come and kill me. Here's my chest to shoot at. Come and kill me and do whatever you want, but I will seek my rights at the cost of my life.»

Founding member of the Iranian New Wave film movement

A founder of the Iranian New Wave film movement, Mr. Mehrjui studied in the film program at UCLA in the early 1960s before making his directorial debut in 1966 with “New Wave.” «Diamond 33», a big-budget parody of the James Bond franchise.

But it was his second film, «Gaav» («Cow in Persian»), that served as the launching pad for his career after it received widespread acclaim for his depiction of rural life in Iran.

Although the film was financed by the Iranian government led by Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the country's last Shah, it was immediately banned upon release due to its supposed negative portrayal of poverty in the country.

However, the Ayatollah praised it. Ruhullah Khomeini, leader of the Islamic Revolution, hailed the absence of any «Western cultural influence.»

A test of the country's increasingly strict censorship laws

Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Mehrjui made a number of films examining the workings of Iranian society and testing the country's increasingly strict censorship laws, including 1996's Leila, which explored marriage, gender and class differences.

His work has won numerous awards, including the Silver Hugo at the 1998 Chicago International Film Festival and the Golden Shell at the 1993 San Sebastian International Film Festival.

On Sunday, supporters and members of the media highly appreciated the work of Mr. Mehrjui. art and expressed regret over his apparently brutal murder.

“Shocking news from Iran,” said Omid Jali, a British-Iranian actor and comedian.

Iranian actor Parviz Perstowi said murder Mr Mehrjui and his wife signaled «a bitter and final episode for Iranian cinema.»

«We have just learned of the tragic death of Iranian film director Dariush Mehrjui and his wife, who were brutally murdered» , said Jean. -Marc Theroine, director of the Vesoul International Asian Film Festival, notes that several of Mr. Mehrjui's works were screened at the event.