Sepideh Abtahi, an Iranian documentary filmmaker, was arrested in Iran on July 15, according to her sister Saeedeh Abtahi.
In a post on Instagram, Saeedeh Abtahi said that security agents arrested her sister and also confiscated her personal electronic devices.
She wrote: "My sister Sepideh consistently expressed clear opposition to war on her Instagram page and openly debated with those advocating for war. No one can doubt that she is both peace-loving and devoted to Iran."
Sepideh Abtahi is a member of the Iranian House of Cinema and previously served as secretary of the Iranian Documentary Filmmakers Association.
She has directed several documentaries, including A Church in the Bazaar, Five Chapters on Iranian Food, The First Door from the Sky, and was one of the directors of the feature-length documentary Profession: Documentary Filmmaker.
In recent years, amid increasing political and security restrictions in Iran, numerous reports have documented growing pressure on artists, writers, journalists, and civil society activists.
Many have faced summons, arrest, prosecution, prison sentences, professional bans, travel restrictions, or other forms of pressure because of their peaceful activities, public statements, artistic work, or support for social causes.
Human rights organizations have described these measures as inconsistent with freedom of expression, freedom of association, and other fundamental human rights, and have expressed concern over the continuing restrictions and their impact on Iran's civil society and cultural life.
