The Iranian Independent Filmmakers Association (IIFMA) has condemned the arrest of documentary filmmaker Mozhgan Ilanlou in Iran.
The IIFMA said Ilanlou was violently arrested this week by plainclothes officers after a physical confrontation; no judicial warrant was presented.
In a statement, the IIFMA said it “strongly condemns this unlawful arrest and reiterates that safeguarding the lives of Iranian citizens, especially political prisoners, must be an urgent priority amid the war the Islamic regime has unleashed on the people”.
It is not the first time Ilanlou has been detained. In October 2022, she was arrested and imprisoned after removing her veil and sharing the photos on social media.
Ilanlou has reportedly been barred from working due to her activism, including documenting Iranian women’s struggles.
The IFFMA’s call for Ilanlou’s release comes as the US-Israel’s war with Iran enters its third week. Earlier this month, IFFMA expressed its “grave concern” for prisoners, particularly political detainees, of the Islamic regime amid the ongoing military strikes on the country.
The IIFMA was founded in November 2022 in response to the “Women, Life, Freedom” uprising to foster independent cinema both in Iran and within the diaspora. It has had a regular presence at major film festivals since then, and had a stand at the recent Berlinale.
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