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Oscar‑Nominated Screenwriter Mehdi Mahmoudian Released After 17‑Day Detention

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Release Occurs After Seventeen Days in Tehran Prison Mehdi Mahmoudian was freed from Nowshahr prison on Tuesday, February 13, 2026, exactly seventeen days after his arrest in Tehran [1]. He and fellow signatories Vida Rabbani and Abdollah Momeni posted bail and left custody the same day [1]. Local media reported the bail amounts were not disclosed, but all three were released without further detention [1].

Arrest Triggered by Public Condemnation of Supreme Leader Authorities detained Mahmoudian shortly after he signed a public statement denouncing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and condemning the regime’s violent crackdown on demonstrators [1]. The statement was framed by officials as “insulting the Supreme Leader” and “propaganda against the Islamic Republic” [1]. The crackdown on dissent follows weeks of nationwide protests that have resulted in thousands of deaths [1].

No Formal Charges Disclosed, Bail Secured for All Iranian officials have not released any formal indictment against Mahmoudian, Rabbani, or Momeni, leaving the legal basis for their detention unclear [1]. All three activists were released after posting bail, though the specific conditions remain unspecified [1]. The lack of transparent charges underscores the regime’s use of vague national‑security accusations to silence critics [1].

International Reaction Highlights Film’s Oscar Nominations Mahmoudian is an Oscar nominee for Best Original Screenplay for “It Was Just an Accident,” which also contends for Best International Feature as France’s submission [1]. Director Jafar Panahi condemned the arrests as intimidation tactics aimed at silencing free expression [1]. U.S. President Donald Trump called for regime change in Iran, describing it as “the best thing that could happen,” adding diplomatic pressure to the domestic unrest [1].

Sources

Timeline

2010 – Panahi receives a six‑year prison sentence for publicly supporting anti‑government protests, marking his first major clash with Iranian authorities and establishing a pattern of state repression [1].

2022 – He is again detained for protesting the arrest of fellow filmmakers, underscoring the regime’s intolerance of artistic dissent and foreshadowing future legal battles [1].

2023 – After a high‑profile hunger strike, Panahi serves a seven‑month imprisonment; his release later that year fuels international advocacy for his freedom and sets the stage for clandestine filmmaking [4].

May 2025 – It Was Just An Accident wins the top prize at Cannes, bringing global attention to Panahi’s covertly shot drama and positioning it as a leading Oscar contender [1].

September 2025 – The film secures the Palme d’Or at Cannes, reinforcing its critical acclaim and prompting France to select it as its Oscar submission for Best International Feature [4].

Dec 2, 2025 – A Tehran court sentences Panahi in absentia to one year in prison and a two‑year travel ban for “propaganda activities,” while he simultaneously collects three Gotham Awards in New York for the same film [4]; his lawyer announces an appeal [4].

Jan 4, 2026 – Panahi’s legal team files an appeal against the December sentencing, signaling his intent to contest the verdict despite being abroad [2].

Jan 8, 2026 – In a video from Los Angeles, Panahi declares that “the regime has fallen politically, economically, ideologically and environmentally,” linking his statement to the intensifying nationwide protests [2].

Jan 16, 2026 – Rights groups report over 2,400 demonstrators killed and more than 18,000 arrested as Iran’s protests reach their fiercest level; Panahi, still abroad, says he will return after the awards season and notes the film’s Oscar‑campaign momentum following its Cannes triumph [2].

Feb 17, 2026 – Oscar‑nominated screenwriter Mehdi Mahmoudian is released after 17 days in detention for signing a statement condemning Supreme Leader Khamenei; Panahi denounces the charges as intimidation tactics, while a recent mass demonstration in Munich and a statement by U.S. President Donald Trump calling for regime change amplify international pressure [3].

Spring 2026 (planned) – Panahi plans to travel back to Iran once the awards season—including the Academy Awards ceremony where It Was Just An Accident is nominated for Best Original Screenplay and Best International Feature—concludes, highlighting his commitment to continue working despite legal constraints [2][3].

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