KARAJ, Iran – A man has been given the death penalty for the brutal murders of renowned Iranian film director Dariush Mehrjui and his wife, Vahideh Mohammadifar, in their home in Karaj, near the capital Tehran, in October. The Chief Justice of Alborz province revealed that three others involved in planning and assisting the murders were also sentenced to prison terms ranging from 8 to 36 years.
Mehrjui, 83, was a pioneer of Iranian new wave cinema. His wife, Mohammadifar, was also deeply involved in the film industry as a screenwriter and costumer designer. Their tragic deaths were discovered by their daughter, who found their bodies in their home.
The convicted killer, who had previously worked for Mehrjui, harbored a grudge against him due to financial issues. The verdicts for all those convicted are not yet final and may be appealed at the Supreme Court.
Tributes poured in for the couple after their deaths, with prominent Iranian actors expressing their deep sorrow and paying their respects to Mehrjui’s extraordinary contribution to Iranian cinema. Mehrjui’s legacy includes award-winning films that were celebrated at international film festivals, but many of his works were subjected to censorship in Iran, never seeing the light of day there.
The tragic loss of such influential figures in the Iranian film industry has left a profound impact, leaving colleagues, fans, and the entire community mourning for their irreplaceable contributions to the world of cinema. Their remarkable work has left an indelible mark in the history of Iranian filmmaking, and their legacy will continue to inspire future generations of filmmakers.