Murderer of Iranian Filmmaker Dariush Mehrjui and his Wife Sentenced to Death

A man has been given the death penalty for the brutal murder of Iranian film director Dariush Mehrjui and his wife, Vahideh Mohammadifar. The couple were stabbed multiple times in their home in Karaj, near Tehran, in October. Three others involved in planning and assisting the murders have been sentenced to jail terms ranging from 8 to 36 years. Dariush Mehrjui, 83, was a key figure in the Iranian new wave cinema movement, while Mohammadifar worked as a screenwriter and costume designer. The bodies were discovered by the couple's daughter, who had come over for dinner. The defendants confessed to the crime after being arrested a few days later. The convicted killer, who had previously worked for Mehrjui, allegedly held a grudge against him due to financial issues. The verdicts can be appealed at the Supreme Court. Tributes have come pouring in for the couple, with many highlighting Mehrjui's significant contributions to Iranian cinema, and expressing shock and sadness over their deaths. Mehrjui gained international fame with his film The Cow in 1969, and went on to create other notable works such as Hamoun, The Pear Tree, and Leila. His films were both celebrated at international festivals and faced censorship in Iran, preventing many from being seen within the country.