Murder of Dariush Mehrjui
On October 15, 2023, Iranian filmmaker Dariush Mehrjui and his wife, actress Vahideh Mohammadifar, were fatally stabbed by an unknown assailant at their residence at Zibadasht, near the city of Karaj. The couple were pronounced dead at the scene. The motive for the attack was not clear, but some speculated that it could be related to Mehrjui's controversial films or his criticism of the Iranian government. Mehrjui is regarded as one of the pioneers of the Iranian New Wave and has won several international awards for his works. He has also faced censorship and harassment from the authorities for his social and political themes. Mohammadifar is also a prominent actress who has appeared in many of Mehrjui's films as well as other Iranian productions.
Murder
Mehrjui's daughter discovered the bodies when she visited her parents. The couple's bodies were in their house, with Vahideh's head almost severed.Investigation
Iranian police investigations revealed that the main cause of the murder attempt is unclear, but some gold items have been stolen. on first police reports that they take custody of 10 people related to the murder. They finally reported that the police took custody of the main killer. Police stated later that day that the crime scene showed “no evidence of a break-in”, and that the doors of their house were “intact”. However, they also said they found “some clues” that they think are “linked to the killer”.The main suspect confessed to the murders, saying that he was a former employee of Mehrjui who harbored a grudge against him "due to financial issues". He was subsequently sentenced to death in February 2024 while the three others received prison terms ranging from eight to 36 years for being accomplices to the crime.