Zahra Rahnavard, a leader of Iran’s Green Movement says the killing of acclaimed director Dariush Mehrjoui echoes the chain murders of Iran, a string of killings and disappearances between 1988 and 1998.

The attacks saw regime security systematically target Iranian dissident intellectuals for over a decade. "The killing of Dariush and Vahideh, the artists, brings to mind the butchering of Daryush and Parvaneh Forouhar and the slaughter of intellectuals…and the suspicious deaths of artists and other protestors," she said in a message posted by their former advisor on X.

The former university professor and political activist, who has been under house arrest with her husband Mir Hossein Mousavi for 13 years, expressed hope that "this time, the murderer will not go unpunished for this crime."

Following the brutal murder of Mehrjui and his wife at their private residence on Saturday, activists are speculating about its potentially political nature.

The funeral service for Mehrjui and his wife took place in Tehran on a Wednesday morning. During the ceremony, Mona, Dariush Mehrjui's daughter, attended without the mandatory hijab. She stated, "I'm at a loss for words to express our grief. As my father used to say, the murderers are truly among us..."

Participants also chanted slogans, saying, "No to Gaza, No to Lebanon, I give my life only for Iran," and expressed, "Death to the perpetrators of the crime."

Overnight, two photographs from the crime scene at Mehrjui's residence were shared on social media with speculation following that only the regime could have had access to the crime scene, suggesting regime culpability. Speculation also suggested that sharing the photos was regime tactics to send a warning to other dissidents.