The ‘main killer’ of Iranian filmmaker and wife is arrested, Iranian authorities announced. The renowned filmmaker couple Dariush Mehrjui and Vahideh Mohammadi-Far were discovered brutally murdered in their residence located outside of Tehran, the capital city.
On October 19, the official IRNA news agency reported that a police spokesperson disclosed that through exhaustive technical investigations and thorough data cross-referencing, the ‘main killer’, who was already in police custody, had been definitively identified.
The spokesperson further revealed that the investigation is ongoing to unveil any potential accomplices in this case.
READ MORE: Netflix increases ‘Subscription’ prices again
Over the weekend, the couple, residing approximately 30 kilometers west of Tehran, fell victim to a fatal stabbing. Dariush Mehrjui, aged 83, was recognized as a co-founder of the Iranian cinema’s new wave during the early 1970s.
In Iran, there is a growing sentiment among activists and opposition figures drawing parallels between this tragic incident and previous crimes that were ultimately classified as political murders. The apprehension of the suspect came just one day after an emotional funeral ceremony for the couple, attended by a significant gathering of the film and arts community, as well as the general public.
During the ceremony, some attendees expressed their dissent through protest slogans like “Women, life, freedom,” underscoring the profound grief and defiant spirit prevailing among the crowd.
The deaths of Dariush Mehrjui and Vahideh Mohammadi-Far have reignited memories of past political murders in Iran, notably the assassination of activists Dariush Foruhar and Parvaneh Eskandari Foruhar in 1998. Both were outspoken critics of Iran’s religious leadership and were subjected to constant surveillance.
