Mostafa Azizi Released from Prison

On Saturday, April 21, the children of Mostafa Azizi, a writer and producer for radio and television, announced on their social media accounts that their father had been released from prison. According to AFP, Arash and Parastoo Azizi confirmed their father's release from Evin Prison with joy. Mostafa Azizi is the author of the short story collection 'I Am Raymond Carver' and the producer of television programs such as the quiz show 'Knowledge and Intelligence' and the series 'Traveler.' He immigrated to Canada in 2010 and was arrested shortly after returning to Iran in February 2015. During his detention, Mr. Azizi was held in Ward 2-A of Evin Prison under the supervision of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. In June 2015, he was tried in the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Abolqasem Salavati, on charges of 'collusion and conspiracy against national security,' 'propaganda against the regime,' and 'insulting the leader of the Islamic Republic,' and was sentenced to eight years in prison. His sentence was later reduced to two years in prison and a fine upon appeal. Previously, there had been reports regarding his poor health condition in prison. According to his family members, he suffers from diabetes, heart disease, and rheumatism and was transferred to the prison clinic in late April of last year. Earlier, the World Pen Association, the Canadian Pen Association, and Amnesty International had called for Mostafa Azizi's release.