An Iranian court has handed down a death sentence to a man convicted of the murder of acclaimed filmmaker Dariush Mehrjui and his wife, Vahideh Mohammadifar, at their residence near Tehran several months ago. Mehrjui, an 83-year-old renowned director associated with Iran’s new wave of cinema, was fatally stabbed alongside his wife in October at their home in Karaj, situated west of the Iranian capital.<\/p>\n
The convicted perpetrator, apprehended shortly after the attack, was identified as a former employee of Mehrjui who harbored animosity towards the deceased stemming from financial disputes, as stated by Hossein Fazeli-Harikandi, the chief justice of Alborz province.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, three additional individuals were implicated in the crime for their involvement in its planning and execution.<\/p>\n
According to the Judiciary’s Mizan Online website, the court sentenced the main perpetrator to death in compliance with Islamic law, specifically the principle of retribution, known as the “qisas” law. He was found guilty of premeditated murder of both Mehrjui and Mohammadifar, as confirmed by Fazeli-Harikandi.<\/p>\n
Fazeli-Harikandi also noted that the application of the retribution law was made at the request of Mehrjui’s family. The other defendants received prison sentences ranging from eight to 36 years.<\/p>\n
However, Mizan clarified that these verdicts are subject to appeal before the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n
Following Mehrjui’s tragic demise, tributes poured in to honor the pioneering contributions of the director, producer, and screenwriter, whose illustrious six-decade career often grappled with censorship challenges, both preceding and succeeding the Islamic revolution of 1979.<\/p>\n
Mehrjui was particularly renowned for his 1969 metaphorical drama “The Cow” and his 1990 dark comedy “Hamoun,” which delved into the complexities of intellectual turmoil amidst divorce and psychological distress within a 24-hour timeframe.<\/p>\n