Reza Mihan Doust, Iranian Writer and Director, Sentenced to Over Three Years in Prison

Neda Mihan Doust, sister of Reza (Navid) Mihan Doust, an Iranian writer and director who was recently sentenced to three years and six months in prison by the Revolutionary Court, says that one of the grounds for the charges against Mr. Mihan Doust is his friendship and family ties with Masih Alinejad, a presenter and anchor of the VOA tablet program, and her brother Alireza Alinejad.

Ms. Neda Mihan Doust told Voice of America that Reza Mihan Doust’s court session was held on Monday, December 29, in Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Amoozadeh, with the presence of the defendant’s lawyer. She said the court sentenced him to three years and six months in prison on charges of “propaganda activities against the system through slogan writing” and “actions against national security through membership in opposition groups with the intention of overthrowing the state.” The verdict was delivered to the defense lawyer on Sunday, December 20.

Ms. Mihan Doust told Voice of America that the verdict is not final, and the defense lawyer, who also rejected the charges in court, is expected to appeal the verdict and file a motion for reconsideration with the court in the coming days.

The sister of this Iranian writer and director, referring to the fact that the judge cited Mr. Mihan Doust’s connection with Masih Alinejad, presenter of the VOA tablet program, and her brother Alireza Alinejad, who is currently serving his sentence in prison, as an example of actions against national security, said: “This connection is a normal friendship and family relationship and cannot be considered membership in an opposition group.”

Ms. Mihan Doust, referring to her brother’s acquaintance and family ties with Masih Alinejad’s family since 2008, told Voice of America: “The verdict mentions a documentary directed by my brother called ‘Crown of Thorns,’ which was about Masih Alinejad’s life and journalistic activities in Iran. At that time, Masih Alinejad was traveling to and from Iran legally, and this film was never released. However, in court and interrogations, they used it against him and his connection with Masih.”

Reza Mihan Doust’s sister told Voice of America: “My brother’s work is cultural and artistic. He is a filmmaker and I don’t think he has committed any illegal acts. When my brother was arrested, officials from the Ministry of Intelligence came to our family home with a search warrant and were looking for certain documents. We believe they were looking for this documentary film.”

Continuing her conversation with Voice of America regarding the charge of propaganda activities against the system through slogan writing against this Iranian writer and director, she said that this charge relates to her brother’s brief arrest on November 19, 2019, by a security official at the Tehran Book Garden. According to Ms. Mihan Doust, at that time, her brother was carrying white ribbons on which was written “the Islamic Republic is not our choice,” and this was considered slogan writing in court.

Based on available information, Reza (Navid) Mihan Doust, whose artistic work includes directing two television series titled “Glass Companion” and “Maybe It Will Happen to You Too” and a film titled “Whatever God Wants,” was briefly arrested on November 19 of last year and was summoned by the Ministry of Intelligence on Wednesday, December 4 of that year via telephone for questioning. Following his arrest, he was transferred to Ward 209 of the Ministry of Intelligence in Evin Prison, and finally, after two months of interrogation, on February 3, 1999, he was temporarily released from prison on a bail of 850 million tomans pending the completion of legal proceedings.

Neda Mihan Doust told Voice of America: “After his temporary release, my brother was unable to formally continue his professional activities and work.” Ms. Mihan Doust continued: “Practically, when you face such charges and want to work, no one is willing to cooperate. We hope that something will change in the appeals court and this verdict will be modified; but at the moment, we don’t know what will happen and everyone is living in anxiety and concern, and we hope the verdict will change.”

The U.S. State Department has repeatedly condemned the violent conduct of the Islamic Republic government toward the Iranian people on various pretexts and the repeated and continuous violations of Iranian citizens’ rights, including freedom of expression and press freedom, by regime officials.

Source: Voice of America