Iranian filmmaker Ali Ahmadzadeh has been arrested, the newest in a sequence of detentions of cultural and activist figures in Iran.

Sources informed RFERL’s Radio Farda that Ahmadzadeh was arrested in Tehran on August 30, after being summoned to safety businesses a number of instances in latest months.

The explanation for his arrest shouldn’t be clear. Nevertheless, he had just lately completed manufacturing of a movie with out acquiring a manufacturing license from the Cinematography Group of the Ministry of Islamic Steering.

Ahmadzadeh has lengthy been on the radar screens of the federal government.

His second movie, Atom Coronary heart Mom, screened on the Berlin Worldwide Movie Competition in 2014, was solely allowed to be proven in Iran in 2017 after modifications required by the Ministry of Islamic Steering. Quickly after it started displaying in Iran, officers reversed their resolution and the movie was pulled from cinemas.

Stress on Iranian filmmakers has intensified in latest weeks.

Effectively-known figures reminiscent of Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof have been arrested, whereas instances have been filed towards different filmmakers reminiscent of Majid Barzegar, Mohsen Amiryousefi, and Mojtaba Mirtahmaseb. All had been summoned to safety businesses as a prelude to their instances.

The stress on filmmakers additionally comes amid a broader crackdown on dissent in Iran. A number of journalists, activists, and attorneys have been summoned or arrested by authorities in latest weeks.

On the similar time, authorities have elevated their pursuit of girls who’ve pushed again on the obligatory hijab guidelines after the announcement of recent restrictions on how ladies might costume at universities and authorities workplaces

Written by Ardeshir Tayebi based mostly on an unique story in Persian by RFE/RL’s Radio Farda