Moulavardi: The Government is Ineffective in Influencing the Cases of Foreign Prisoners in Iran

The assistant to the President of Iran for citizen rights states that Hassan Rouhani's government has failed to influence the cases of foreign nationals imprisoned in Iran. In an exclusive interview with the Associated Press published on Friday, September 23, Shahindokht Moulavardi said that the judicial treatment of Nizar Zaka, a Lebanese citizen residing in the United States, is not endorsed by Hassan Rouhani's government, but the government has been unsuccessful in influencing this case. She acknowledged that the government is constrained in challenging judicial actions, especially when civil activists and foreign nationals are involved. Nizar Zaka traveled to Iran three years ago at the invitation of Moulavardi, who was then the Deputy for Women and Family Affairs under Rouhani. However, upon returning to the airport to leave Iran, he was arrested by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He was later charged with espionage in a closed trial and sentenced to ten years in prison. According to Moulavardi, this process is 'not endorsed by the government.' She added, 'We have done everything in our power to stop this process, but we see that we have been unsuccessful in making a significant impact on this process.' The assistant to Rouhani noted that 'the actions of one branch can neutralize the efforts of another branch.' Moulavardi also referred to the recent arrests of several lawyers involved in human rights cases, which she described as 'an intensification of the repression of civil society.' She also mentioned the Rouhani government's efforts to assist in the release of imprisoned students and star students deprived of education. Regarding Nizar Zaka, Moulavardi acknowledged that his presence in Iran was with the permission of official authorities and recalled that they had dinner together at a conference where Zaka participated and took a group photo. According to Rouhani's assistant, she later learned that Zaka was arrested on his way back to the airport and is currently in prison due to the heavy sentence issued against him. Moulavardi added that such actions certainly damage the perception of investment security in Iran abroad and present an 'unrealistic image' of the country, although she stated that 'this is not the reality.' In response to these statements, Zaka's lawyer in the U.S. welcomed Moulavardi's position but stated that such remarks do not change the reality that 'Nizar has been kidnapped and imprisoned and has not been treated like a guest.' Jason Poblete, who represents Zaka in Washington, welcomed the acknowledgment that Nizar 'has been wrongly accused' and noted that he is now in his third year of imprisonment in Iran, and 'this injustice has placed an immense and indescribable burden on him and his family.'