by Yesim Usluca
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran — An Iranian court sentenced an Iranian-American and his father to ten years in prison and also fined them $4.8 million.

Father-son were sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined $4.8 million (Photo courtesy of Daily Mail)

Mr. Siamak Namazi, who is a businessman in his mid-40s, was arrested in October 2015 by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (“IRGC”) while visiting family in Tehran. In February 2016, the IRGC arrested his 80-year-old dual citizen father, Baquer Namazi, who is a former Iranian provincial governor and former UNICEF official.

Siamak and Baquer were each given a single court session lasting a few hours in duration, before the sentences were given. The court proceedings were kept in secrecy and details of the allegations against them have not been publicly released. They were not permitted to hire their own defense attorney due to an Iranian law which allows only government-approved lawyers to represent defendants in cases related to national security.

In a statement, Siamak’s brother, Mr. Babak Namazi, stated that the sentences are unjust. He indicated that his father has been “handed practically a death sentence.” Baquer Namazi’s wife indicated that he suffers from a serious heart condition, as well as other medical issues, which require special mediation.

Tehran prosecutor, Mr. Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, stated that the men were sentenced to prison for spying for the U.S. and “cooperating with the U.S. government.” Mr. Javad Karimi Qudossi, a member of the security and foreign policy committee in Iran’s parliament stated that Siamak was actively “recruiting spies for America and inserting cultural, military and political spies inside the country.” Iranian officials have not clarified who is responsible for paying the $4.8 million fine. It did, however, indicate that the amount is what Siamak and Baquer had received from the U.S. “for their mission in Iran.”

These are the latest sentences against dual citizens directed by powerful Iranian judiciary and security forces following the U.S.-Iranian nuclear deal. Security officials have arrested dozens of artists, journalists and businessmen, including Iranians with dual U.S., European or Canadian citizenship, as part of a “crackdown” on “western infiltration.” The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran (“Campaign”) stated that the country does not recognize dual citizenship, and that it routinely “harasses citizens and dual nationals with trumped up national security charges.” Since the country does not recognize dual nationality, detainees with dual citizenship are unable to obtain consular assistance.

The sentences have attracted international attention. The U.S. State Department’s deputy spokesman, Mr. Mark Toner, indicated that the father and son had been “unjustly detained” in Iran. He stated he was “deeply concerned” by the reports and called for their immediate release. On Tuesday, UNICEF called for the release of Baquer on “humanitarian grounds.”

For more information, please see:

Los Angeles Times—Iranian American father and son sentenced to 10 years in prison in Iran, report says—18 October 2016

CNN—American father and son sentenced to 10 years in Iranian prison—19 October 2016

Reuters—Iran sentences two U.S. citizens to 10 years in prison—18 October 2016

NBC News—Iran Sentences Iranian-American, His Father to 10 Years Each in Prison—18 October 2016

 

Author: Impunity Watch Archive