Kurdish Filmmaker Reza Alaei Arrested by Iranian Security Forces

Hengaw: Saturday, September 14, 2024

In continuation of the wave of arrests of Kurdish individuals ahead of the second anniversary of the state-sanctioned killing of Jina Amini, Kurdish filmmaker Reza Alaei has been arrested by the security forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Two days have passed, and his whereabouts remain unknown.

According to a report received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, security forces raided the family home of 43-year-old filmmaker and director Reza Alaei in Baneh, arresting him at the door of his residence.

A source told Hengaw that the security forces arrested the director without presenting an arrest warrant and transferred him to an undisclosed location.

Despite two days passing since his arrest and his family's attempts to gather information, there has been no detailed information regarding the reasons for his arrest, the charges against him, or his place of detention.

Reza Alaei, a filmmaker from Baneh, has produced several short and feature films. One of his films, titled "Zewye Pîsekan" (Polluted Lands), was selected to participate in the Cannes International Film Festival.