Iran arrests Oscar-nominated screenwriter, activists

Iranian authorities arrested Oscar-nominated screenwriter Mehdi Mahmoudian in Tehran on Saturday, along with human rights activist Vida Rabbani and activist Abdollah Momeni, days after the trio signed a public statement condemning the government's violent suppression of anti-regime protests. The detentions highlight ongoing efforts to silence dissent amid widespread unrest in the country.

The statement, signed by 17 individuals on January 28, accused Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei of responsibility for what it described as the mass and systematic killing of citizens who took to the streets to challenge the regime. "The mass and systematic killing of citizens who bravely took to the streets to bring an end to an illegitimate regime constitutes an organized state crime against humanity," the letter stated. Officials have not disclosed specific charges against the detainees, and details on their conditions remain limited. Mahmoudian briefly contacted his family via social media to confirm his arrest and health status but provided no further information, as he was not permitted to do so. He has since spoken with a lawyer.

Mahmoudian, a prominent human rights activist, co-wrote the...