Writer and member of the Iranian Writers Association (IWA) Reza Khandan Mahabadi is currently serving a five-year sentence in Evin Prison since September 2019.

An informed source told HRANA that Khandan is suffering from heart disease and is being held in Ward 8 of Evin Prison. On December 21, 2021, h was hospitalized outside the prison after he contracted COVID-19. On January 8, 2021, another well-known writer, Baktash Abtin died of Covid-19  due to negligence.

Mahabadi was sentenced on May 15, 2019, by Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, headed by Judge Mohammad Moghayeseh. His sentence included one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime” and five years on the charge of “assembly and collusion with the intention of acting against national security”. On September 26, 2020, he was arrested and sent to Evin Prison to serve his sentence.

Mahabadi’s career as a writer kicked off in 1978 with the publication of his book “Local Children”. Some of his publications include “Nothing Comes Out of the Sack, ExceptWhat Was In It”, a seven-volume story collection called “My Favorite Stories”, a collection of research titled “Razi War”, and the 19-volume fiction collection “Encyclopedia of Iranian Legends and Fairy Tales” (co-author Ali Ashraf Darvishian).