Overview
- Neon, the U.S. distributor of It Was Just an Accident, confirmed Mahmoudian’s detention to media outlets, while Iranian authorities have not acknowledged the arrest or announced charges.
- Fellow signatories Vida Rabbani and Abdollah Momeni were also reported detained after endorsing the same statement.
- The declaration accuses Khamenei of authorizing massive and systematic killings and details abuses including live fire on civilians, arbitrary arrests, and obstruction of medical care.
- Director Jafar Panahi condemned the detention and described Mahmoudian as a moral presence, as he continues promoting the film abroad.
- The Cannes Palme d’Or winner holds Oscar nominations for original screenplay and international feature, and calls for Mahmoudian’s release have grown internationally, including from Germany.