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Iranian-American journalist, Reza Valizadeh, sentenced to 10 years in prison

The Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Reza Valizadeh, a former journalist for the Persian section of Radio Free Europe (Radio Farda) and a political prisoner in Iran, to 10 years in prison along with additional penalties.

Radio Farda reported on December 14, 2024, that the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced Reza Valizadeh to 10 years in prison on the charge of “collaborating with hostile governments”. The court also imposed additional penalties, including a ban on residing in Tehran and its neighboring provinces, prohibition from leaving the country, and a two-year ban on membership in political and social parties and groups for this Iranian-American journalist.

Radio Farda quoted relatives of Reza Valizadeh, stating that the judicial process in this journalist’s case was conducted unfairly, and that the judge, during heated exchanges with Reza Valizadeh’s lawyer, Mohammad Hossein Aghasi, referred to the selection of a “tie-wearing” lawyer as the “biggest mistake” of this journalist.

Reza Valizadeh is an Iranian-American journalist and a former reporter for the Persian section of Radio Free Europe (Radio Farda). Radio Farda had previously announced that Mr. Valizadeh ended his collaboration with this media outlet in November 2022. After a period of continued residence outside Iran, he returned to the country and was ultimately arrested by the security agencies of the Islamic Republic.

Despite the issuance of a ruling in the initial court, Reza Valizadeh remains in Ward 209 of Evin Prison, under inhumane conditions and without the possibility of family visits.