Suspicious murders of renowned Iranian filmmaker and his wife invoke memories of ’90s chain murders

By
Staff Writer
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The Iranian film community and society at large were met with shock and dismay when news surfaced of the tragic murders of acclaimed film director, Dariush Mehrjui, and his wife, Vahideh Mohammadi-Far, in their residence in Zibadasht, Karaj.
The Iranian film community and society at large were met with shock and dismay when news surfaced of the tragic murders of acclaimed film director, Dariush Mehrjui, and his wife, Vahideh Mohammadi-Far, in their residence in Zibadasht, Karaj.

 

While the official narrative attributes this heinous crime to unidentified culprits, many Iranians vividly recall the notorious chain murders of the 1990s and harbor deep suspicions regarding the government’s involvement.

Mehrjui’s daughter, Mona, made the harrowing discovery on Sunday evening. The immediate aftermath saw the apprehension of four suspects tied to the murders, as stated by the regime. However, these developments do little to calm the unrest in the hearts of the Iranian people who remember the past all too well.

A recent interview from the state-run Etemad newspaper reveals that the couple faced threats just a week before the tragedy. Vahideh Mohammadi-Far recounted an alarming incident where an intruder, armed with a knife, tried to break into their home. She emphasized the stranger’s foreign accent, which stirred further questions about the origin and intent of the threat.

 

 

Details of their untimely deaths were described by the Fars News Agency, known to have ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. They reported that Mehrjui suffered three fatal strikes to the throat, while his wife was struck at the temple. Two mobile phones were also missing from the crime scene.

The haunting similarities between this incident and the chain murders of the late 1990s are hard to ignore. During that era, several dissidents, intellectuals, and writers faced brutal killings for voicing opposition to the Iranian regime or advocating for political reform. Investigations revealed that these murders were orchestrated by influential figures within the government, primarily linked to the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS).

The MOIS subsequently launched a public relations campaign, implicating Saeed Emami, then-Deputy Minister of Intelligence and Security, as the mastermind. Emami was later reported dead, with high arsenic levels in his system, an apparent attempt by the regime to close the chapter on these murders. But the regime’s deep-rooted system of persecution persists to this day.

 

 

Mehrjui’s demise comes on the heels of a video he released 18 months prior, in which he boldly confronted the Minister of Guidance and Culture. He vowed to stand against any oppression, displaying immense courage and conviction.

With the Mehrjui tragedy echoing past events, the Iranian public remains skeptical of the official narrative and is clamoring for justice and transparency.

 

 

 

MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her site, Twitter & Facebook, NCRI  (Twitter & Facebook), and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTu

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