Iranian court sentences former RFE/RL journalist to 10 years in prison

A court in Iran has sentenced former Radio Farda journalist Reza Valizadeh to 10 years in prison. He was accused of working for a “hostile American government.”

The judge also acted as the state prosecutor at the trial. After serving his sentence, Valizadeh, who, in addition to his Iranian citizenship, holds American citizenship, will not be able to leave the country for two years, live in Tehran and its suburbs, and join political organizations, Farda reports.

Valizadeh collaborated with the Iranian service for 10 years and resigned in 2022. Earlier this year, he came to Iran to meet with his family and was detained and then arrested. The reason was his refusal to cooperate with intelligence and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which the US authorities have recognized as a terrorist organization.

The special services unofficially promised the journalist that he would not be in danger after his arrival, his relatives say. He reminded the judge of this at his trial.

The US State Department condemned Valizadze's detention, calling it unfair and inconsistent with international legal norms. Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists