Mona Mehrjui's Lawyer Surprised by Indictment: We Have Objected to the Forensic Report

Mona Mehrjui's lawyer expressed surprise at the issuance of an indictment for the suspects in the murder of Dariush Mehrjui and his wife, Vahideh Mohammadi Far, and announced an objection to the forensic report. Manouchehr Manouchehri, Mona's lawyer, stated in an interview with the newspaper 'Etemad' on Tuesday, December 20, that they learned about the indictment through the media, while investigations were still ongoing in the prosecutor's office. He pointed out that there are 'ambiguities in the case' and mentioned that they had requested 'investigations in certain matters,' indicating that until 'the completion of investigations' and the review of objections to the forensic report, the issuance of an indictment seemed 'impossible.' In the early hours of Sunday, October 15, 2023, some Telegram channels and then official media reported the murder of Dariush Mehrjui, a prominent filmmaker, and his wife Vahideh Mohammadi Far at their home in the city of Fardis, Alborz Province, by 'unknown' individuals. The media center of the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic announced on December 19, quoting Hossein Fazeli Harikandi, the head of the Alborz Province judiciary, that an indictment had been issued for four suspects in the case and referred to the Criminal Court 1 of Alborz Province for 'processing.' Manouchehri commented on the case proceedings, stating that 'given that the latest forensic report also faced ambiguities, the indictment was issued with hypotheses and in an uncertain manner.' He added that 'due to the existence of ambiguities in the case, we had requested investigations in certain matters, which made the issuance of an indictment seem impossible until the completion of investigations and the review of objections to the forensic report.' The Iranian Writers Association, on October 24, referred to the 'brutal murder' of Dariush Mehrjui and his wife, screenwriter Vahideh Mohammadi Far, stating that 'the authorities are evading accountability for the ambiguities and explaining what happened to the two.' Mona Mehrjui's lawyer also indicated that due to the lack of a significant motive for this crime by the suspects, further investigations are needed to identify accomplices or potential partners in the crime or to understand the 'true motive' of these suspects. He emphasized that 'our objection to the forensic report and the request for further investigations through two petitions, as well as the objections of the defendants' appointed lawyers to the latest forensic report, have not yet been addressed.' Mona Mehrjui, the daughter of Dariush Mehrjui and Vahideh Mohammadi Far, participated in her parents' funeral on October 26 without the mandatory hijab required by the Islamic Republic, stating, 'As my father said, the killers are truly among us.'