Classmates of Reza Shahini, Iranian-American Citizen, Call for His Release

The 'Citizenyar' workshop page on Facebook published a short video featuring classmates of Reza (Robin) Shahini, an Iranian-American citizen imprisoned in Iran, in which several of his fellow students called for his release. Reza (Robin) Shahini was born in 1969 in Iran and moved to the United States in 1988 to continue his education in California. After some time, he began studying 'International Security and Conflict Resolution' at San Diego State University and also obtained American citizenship. Shahini traveled to Iran in June 2016 to visit his sick mother, but was arrested by security forces at his mother's home just days before his return to the U.S. He was ultimately sentenced to 18 years in prison on charges of 'collaborating with hostile governments, acting against national security, and communicating with anti-revolutionary elements and media.' Citizenyar reports that this Iranian-American citizen is being held 'in violation of the laws of the Islamic Republic alongside drug prisoners' in Golestan prison and has been subjected to severe harassment by inmates who are tools of the prison's security forces. When he protested this situation, he was transferred to solitary confinement. According to the report, 'the dual treatment and violation of human and legal standards by the security forces of Golestan prison escalated to the point where Reza (Robin) Shahini was beaten for writing prison memoirs and sent to solitary confinement.' Meanwhile, Fatemeh Shahini told Radio Farda that the news of her brother being beaten is not true. She added that her brother considers the trial and sentence unfair. It has been reported that this Iranian-American citizen has been on hunger strike since Wednesday, February 16, in protest of his conditions. Earlier, the IRGC of Golestan province claimed, by publishing photos from this Iranian-American's Facebook showing him alongside opponents of the Islamic Republic and at gatherings supporting protests after the 2009 presidential election, that he had connections with the 'U.S. intelligence service.' Last week, Shahini, in an open letter, rejected his charges and described the handling of these accusations as 'unfair.' In this open letter, which was also provided to Radio Farda, Shahini stated that the accusations against him were based on photos of his participation in 'gatherings supporting the Green Movement in the U.S.' and wrote that he had 'not met with anyone who advocates violent political struggle and his only crime has been expressing his thoughts.' Reza (Robin) Shahini wrote that he traveled to Iran 'to visit family and in the hope of changing government policy towards citizens.'