Appeals Court Upholds 10-Year Prison Sentence and Additional Punishments for Reza Valizadeh

Appeals Court Upholds 10-Year Prison Sentence and Additional Punishments for Reza Valizadeh

HRANA News Agency – The Tehran Court of Appeals has upheld the 10-year prison sentence and additional punishments for Reza Valizadeh, a journalist currently imprisoned in Evin Prison.

He was previously convicted by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court and sentenced to 10 years in prison, a travel ban, a ban on residing in Tehran and neighboring provinces, and a two-year prohibition on membership in political and social groups.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the Appeals Court confirmed all aspects of the initial verdict against Reza Valizadeh.

His lawyer, Mohammad-Hossein Aghasi, stated:

“Today, I visited Abdolreza Valizadeh to show him the appeal rejection. I had previously said that the court’s standard procedure is to uphold the original ruling, but perhaps a retrial could finally open the blindfolded eyes of justice.”

In December 2024, Judge Iman Afshari of Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Reza Valizadeh to 10 years in prison on charges of “collaboration with a hostile government (the U.S.)”. Additionally, he was banned from leaving the country, prohibited from residing in Tehran and neighboring provinces, and barred from joining political or social groups for two years.

Background on Reza Valizadeh’s Arrest

  • After living abroad for several years, Reza Valizadeh returned to Iran in March 2023. Upon arrival, he was interrogated by IRGC intelligence and the Ministry of Intelligence, released after signing a commitment, and allowed to remain free.
  • However, a few months later, in early October 2023, he was arrested by security forces and transferred to Evin Prison.
  • According to Voice of America (VOA), he was detained in Ward 209 of Evin Prison, controlled by the Ministry of Intelligence, and denied family visits.

Before emigrating, Reza Valizadeh was previously arrested in 2007 but later released on bail. He reportedly holds dual citizenship and has worked with various media outlets, including Radio France, Voice of America (VOA), Radio Farda, and the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).

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