An Iranian-American held in Tehran has reportedly been sentenced to 18 years in prison for “collaboration with a hostile government,” becoming yet another dual national convicted in a secret trial since Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers.
Robin Shahini during his May 2016 International Security and Conflict Resolution San Diego State University graduation ceremony (Shahini Family Photo via AP)
The sentence handed down to Robin Shahini, a 46-year-old graduate student who lives in San Diego, is the harshest yet for those detained in what analysts believe is hard-liner plan to use them as bargaining chips in future negotiations.
Shahini tells Vice News in an interview aired late on Monday that he “just laughed” after hearing his sentence. He acknowledges supporting the protests that followed Iran’s disputed 2009 presidential election, but denies being involved in any sort of spying.
“Whatever information they had is all the pictures I posted in Facebook, in my web blog, and they use all those evidence to accuse me,” Shahini says in a telephone call from prison.
Iranian judiciary officials do not respond to request for comment from The Associated Press, nor does Iran’s mission to the United Nations.
In a statement, the US State Department says it is troubled by reports of Shahini’s sentence.
“We reaffirm our calls on Iran to respect and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, cease arbitrary and politically motivated detentions and ensure fair and transparent judicial proceedings,” it says.
— AP
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