Reza Valizadeh, Despite Sentencing, Remains in Quarantine at Evin Prison

Reza Valizadeh, an Iranian-American journalist and former Radio Farda reporter who has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, has managed to contact his family after three months. This journalist, who decided to return to Iran after about 15 years following his resignation from Radio Farda, is still being held in quarantine at Evin Prison and has not been transferred to the general section despite the issuance of his sentence. Radio Farda has learned that Mr. Valizadeh is being held in quarantine alongside Reza Khandan, a civil activist and husband of Nasrin Sotoudeh (a prominent lawyer), who has recently been transferred to Evin. Mr. Khandan was arrested on December 14 for a case that was later pardoned and transferred to Evin. The reason for Reza Valizadeh's continued detention in quarantine at Evin Prison is unclear, and recently, following the energy shortages and air pollution in Tehran, prison officials have cited 'air pollution' as the reason for his current conditions. The United States condemned the sentencing of Reza Valizadeh, a former Radio Farda journalist. Valizadeh, who resigned from Radio Farda in November 2022 after 10 years of service, returned to Iran on March 7, 2023, to visit his family after a period of living abroad. His arrest warrant was issued on September 16 by the first investigative branch of District 33 and he was arrested on October 1. He was held for 11 days under conditions of shackles and blindfolds in the custody of the IRGC. Valizadeh was transferred to solitary confinement in Evin Prison on October 11 and was interrogated until October 24 when he was moved to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced this Iranian-American journalist to 10 years of punitive imprisonment. In the ruling issued by the Revolutionary Court, which Radio Farda has seen, this journalist was also sentenced to a two-year ban on residing in Tehran and neighboring provinces, a ban on leaving the country, and a ban on membership in political parties and social groups. Judge Iman Afshari and Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court issued this ruling against the journalist on the charge of 'collaboration with the hostile government of the United States.' The U.S. State Department strongly condemned the 10-year prison sentence for Reza Valizadeh. Steven Kaplan, President and CEO of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, described the ruling as 'unjust' and called for the immediate release of this former Radio Farda journalist.