An Iranian-American Citizen Arrested in Gorgan

Reports published on Thursday, July 21, indicate that security agents of the Islamic Republic of Iran have arrested an Iranian-American citizen in Gorgan on charges of acting against national security. CBS News reported that security agents arrested Reza (Robin) Shahini, a resident of San Diego, California, at his mother's home in Gorgan on July 21. The Associated Press reported that Mr. Shahini graduated from the University of San Diego in May this year with a degree in 'International Security and Conflict Resolution.' Mr. Shahini's girlfriend, who wished to remain anonymous, told Radio Farda on Thursday: 'Reza Shahini traveled to Iran in early June to visit his sick mother. Security agents visited his mother's home in Gorgan on July 21 and after searching the house and seizing his personal belongings, including his computer and mobile phone, arrested Reza Shahini.' According to her, Reza Shahini has been charged with 'acting against the regime.' His girlfriend also stated that his lawyer has not been allowed to meet with him and has been told that he is currently under interrogation and cannot have a lawyer. It is still unclear which agency arrested Reza Shahini. His family has stated that they have informed U.S. State Department officials about his arrest but have not yet received a response. Reza Shahini has lived in San Diego for 16 years and, according to his family, has only traveled to Iran two or three times during this period. Fatemeh Shahini, the sister of this Iranian-American citizen, said on Thursday that Iranian judicial officials have emphasized to family members not to speak to any media about this matter. Iranian officials have not yet commented on Reza Shahini's arrest. In recent months, several dual citizens have been arrested and imprisoned in Iran. Nazanin Zaghari, an Iranian-British citizen, Homa Hoodfar, an Iranian-Canadian citizen, and Siamak Namazi and his father Baqer Namazi, Iranian-Americans, are among these individuals. Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, the public prosecutor and revolutionary prosecutor of Tehran, announced on July 21 that indictments have been issued for these individuals and that their cases have been sent to court. Nazanin Zaghari was arrested at Imam Airport in Tehran on April 15 of this year. Iranian judiciary officials have accused Ms. Zaghari of participating in 'designing and implementing media and cyber projects aimed at a soft overthrow of the Islamic Republic,' but her family denies these accusations. Homa Hoodfar, a well-known Iranian-Canadian anthropologist who also holds Irish citizenship, was arrested on June 7 after being summoned to the security prosecutor's office in Tehran. The public prosecutor of Tehran stated on July 4 that she had engaged in 'feminism and security crimes.' Ms. Hoodfar's family issued a statement denying the accusations against her, stating that this is the 'first time' feminism has been presented as a 'crime' in Iran. Siamak Namazi, a former director of strategic planning at Crescent Petroleum, was arrested last October, and Baqer Namazi, his father and a former UNICEF representative in several African countries, was arrested last February. In recent months, several human rights organizations and some Western countries have called on Iranian authorities to release these individuals. The U.S. and the U.K. have warned their citizens that traveling to Iran could pose a risk of arrest.