Alizadeh: Siamak Namazi is being interrogated without access to a lawyer

Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabai, the lawyer for Siamak Namazi, an Iranian-American citizen, stated that his client has been under interrogation for the past five months and has not only been denied visits but also has not had his power of attorney filed in the case. Meanwhile, NPR reported that Crescent Petroleum has announced that Siamak Namazi is no longer an employee of the company. According to a report from the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran on February 19, Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabai clarified regarding his client's case: 'The case is still under investigation and has not returned to the investigating judge. Not only have I not been allowed to meet him, but they have also not allowed us to file the power of attorney I have on the case.' Siamak Namazi, a former director of strategic planning at Crescent Petroleum, was arrested in October 2022. According to his lawyer, he is currently held in Ward 2-A of Evin Prison under temporary detention. Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabai further stated that he has not been allowed to review the case file, but according to Namazi's family, he is likely charged with 'collaboration with hostile governments.' However, Namazi's lawyer emphasized that the determination of which government is 'hostile' is legally the responsibility of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, which has explicitly stated in inquiries regarding other cases that 'we are not at war with any country.' Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabai also confirmed that during negotiations for the release of Iranian-American citizens, his client was discussed as well. Mr. Alizadeh expressed ignorance as to why his client, along with four other Iranian-Americans, has not been released, stating that the investigation into Mr. Namazi is still ongoing. During a prisoner exchange between Iran and the U.S. on January 16 of this year, Iran released four Iranian-American citizens. Meanwhile, NPR also reported on Siamak Namazi's case, noting that Crescent Petroleum announced that Mr. Namazi is no longer an employee of the company. NPR stated that Siamak Namazi's case has received less attention than other Iranian-Americans. In this context, Bijan Khajepour, a relative of Siamak Namazi, told NPR that Siamak traveled to Iran to visit his parents. However, when he attempted to leave Tehran in July, security forces at the airport prevented him from exiting and he was interrogated for three months. He added: 'Of course, he was not imprisoned but was at his father's house, though he was intermittently summoned for interrogation.' Bijan Khajepour further stated: 'Unfortunately, during one of these interrogations in October, Siamak Namazi was detained and imprisoned.' Mr. Khajepour added that during this time, he has been able to speak with his parents by phone several times. In this regard, Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabai also stated that Siamak Namazi has only met with his mother during this period, and his father has not yet been granted permission to visit.