Sentence of Mustafa Azizi, former television producer, reduced to two years in prison

The sentence of Mustafa Azizi, a writer and producer for radio and television, has been reduced from eight years to two years in prison by the appeals court. He was arrested on February 1, 2015, shortly after returning to Iran from Canada. A family member of Mr. Azizi, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed this news in an interview with Radio Farda on Friday, April 25, stating that it was verbally communicated to Mr. Azizi's lawyer that a monetary fine had been imposed for the charge of 'collusion and conspiracy against national security.' It was added that considering Mr. Azizi's 14-month imprisonment, he must spend another 10 months in prison. Mr. Azizi was tried in June 2015 in Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolqasem Salavati, and was sentenced to eight years in prison for 'collusion and conspiracy against national security,' 'propaganda against the regime,' and 'insulting the leadership.' Before the Nowruz holidays, Arash Azizi, the son of this former Iranian television producer, announced that his father had been granted a two-week leave after 14 months in prison. Mustafa Azizi, the author of the short story collection 'I Am Raymond Carver' and producer of television programs such as the quiz show 'Knowledge and Intelligence' and the series 'Traveler,' had immigrated to Canada in 2010. According to family members, he suffers from diabetes, heart disease, and rheumatism, which led to him being transferred to the medical facility of Evin Prison for several hours in late April last year. Mr. Azizi was held in Ward 2-A of Evin Prison under the supervision of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps during his detention and is currently serving his sentence in Ward 8 of the same prison. The International PEN Association, PEN Canada, and Amnesty International have called for the release of this writer and radio and television producer.