UK – Iran International, January 29, 2025
An Iranian court of appeals has upheld the 10-year prison sentence for Iranian-American journalist Reza Valizadeh, a former employee of a US government-funded broadcaster, his lawyer announced on X.
Mohammad-Hossein Aghasi said Wednesday he informed Valizadeh of the court’s widely expected decision to uphold the 10-year prison sentence during a prison visit, but “perhaps a retrial could open the blindfolded eyes of justice.”
The sentence relates to charges of so-called collaboration with a hostile government.
Valizadeh worked for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Persian Service, known as Radio Farda, for 10 years before leaving the organization in November 2022.
After 14 years abroad he returned to Iran to visit his family in March, according to a post he made on X. He was later arrested in September and received the 10-year jail term.
