Gholam Reza Shahini

Gholam Reza Shahini (Robin Shahini, Rubin Shahini, Reza Shahini) is an Iranian-American citizen. He has studied International Security in San Diego University in California. He was arrested during his visit with his family in the city of Gorgan in July of 2016

• <coverage-outsourcing id='7573'> He was arrested by agents of the Ninva Golestan IRGC. During the first few days there were rumors of his arrest online. According to the defendant's friends and family he was not engaged in political activities. He was held in solitary confinement in Ninva Detention Center </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='7574'> According to a report by HRANA he was arrested on this date in Iran. HRANA reports that he was charged with "attempts against national security" and that his family had hired an attorney for him, but that the attorney had not been able to achieve any results </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='7608'> According to "The Telegraph", John Kirby announced that the government is investigating the arrest of a US citizen in Iran </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='7576'> Voice of America's Persian-speaking branch reported that one week into his arrest with no news, the defendant's friends and family decided to take steps in gaining information. The US Department of State is yet to make a decision regarding their involvement in this case at the behest of the defendant's family </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='8622'> The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reported that the defendant's family was informed that he was arrested by the IRGC's Intelligence Unit. This report also states that his attorney was not allowed to meet with him while he was still under investigation </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='7607'> According to a report by ILNA, Mohseni Eje'i stated on his arrest: > Yes it's true. An Iranian American was arrested in this town, but I'm not sure of the charges against him. But I do confirm that a dual national Iranian American has been arrested in Gorgan. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='7575'> According to a report by "CBS" wherein the defendant's mother and girlfriend are interviewed, his plan was to return to San Diego and pursue a graduate degree. This report states that he had not encountered any issues while entering Iran </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='8258'> According to a report by the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran he was transferred to Gorgan Prison. He was in solitary confinement in this facility for four days before being transferred to Ward 2 where he was held alongside inmates charged with theft, murder, and drug smuggling </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='8257'> The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reported that his case was transferred to Branch 1 of Gorgan General and Revolutionary Court. This report states that his attorney was not allowed to study the case files. This report indicated that the defendant was charged with "attempts against national security, participation in the 2009 protests, collaboration with Voice of America, and blasphemy in a virtual space(Facebook) </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='8516'> The US Department of State issued a statement to US citizens, particularly those holding Iranian and US citizenship, warning them of the dangers of "unjust" arrests in Iran. The statement reads: > Arresting US citizens is a priority for the Iranian government. The Department of State had previously released a similar statement in 2015 </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='8786'> Hossein Naghavi Hosseini, the Spokesperson for the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission spoke about a meeting of the Commission with IRGC commanders. “At this meeting, it was said that individuals holding dual citizenships are subjects of serious interest by enemy intelligence services and are used in ‘infiltration’ projects.” In the rhetoric used by the ruling officials and their affiliates, all efforts to bring Iran and the west closer in political, social, cultural, and in some cases economic ways in the post-nuclear agreement era is referred to as the “infiltration project.” </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='8789'> The public relations office of the Revolutionary Guard of Golestan Province informed domestic media of his arrest without disclosing his name. The report says: > This individual was arrested by Province's (Golestan) Revolutionary Guard intelligence and delivered to judiciary officials in late July of this year in the city of Gorgan immediately after he entered the country. His charges are cooperation with enemy states, acts against national security, and communications with anti-revolutionary figures and media </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='9727'> "Edalatkhahan e Golestan" website published pictures of him participating in 2009 demonstrations or next to people such as Abolhassan Bani Sadr, Akbar Ganji, Reza Pahlavi, and while being interviewed by Voice of America, and claimed that he has been working with the United States government </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='9144'> “Ratcliffe’s conviction and sentencing on unclear charges without any semblance of a fair trial is what amounts to ‘justice’ in Iran’s notorious revolutionary courts,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director of Human Rights Watch in a press release, demanding her release. The press release added that Ms. Zaghari’s lawyer had only been able to see her for the first time three days before her trial and three months after her arrest and after her interrogations had ended. The press release further added that the lawyer for imprisoned Robin Shahini had not been able to review the evidence against his client, naming other individuals holding dual citizenships who have been imprisoned in Iran such as Homa Hoodfar, Siamak Namazi, Mohammad Bagher Namazi, Jason Rezaian, and Kamal Foroughi. “The jump in prosecutions of Iranian dual nationals appears to reflect efforts by government hard-liners to keep Iran isolated from the global community. Individuals should not have to suffer unjust prison terms because of a country’s internal politics,” Whitson added. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='9721'> Ahmad Shahid asked the Iranian government to release all the prisoners with dual citizenships. Noting unacceptable conditions of Nazanin Zaghari, Bagher Namazi, and Kamal Foroughi, Ahmad Shahid declared that convicting these people based on crimes that are concealed even from the accused and their attorneys is making a mockery of justice </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='9717'> According to United State Department of State' website, in response to questions by the reporters regarding the conviction of Reza Shahini, John Kirby replied that we were "disturbed" by the reports, and United States never has and never will be "blackmailed" by Iran incarcerating American citizens </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='9720'> Vice News reported that Reza Shahini has been sentenced to 18 years in prison. According to the report, in a phone call from prison Mr. Shahini told the news agency that he was being interrogated every morning and afternoon, and kept in solitary confinement during that time. He also informed Vice News of his decision to go on hunger strike in protest to this sentence </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='10945'> According to the court verdict, Reza Shahini has been sentenced to 9 years in prison for the charge of "cooperation with Voice of America as a body of the enemy state of America", and it is the same verdict that has been enforced by the application of Article 134. However, in 2014 branch 36 of the supreme court of Iran, while reviewing Omid Kokabi's case, had announced that currently there are no countries in conflict with Iran and that conflict does not refer to political disagreements, so the court has misinterpreted this term </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='10944'> Harana published his punishment verdict issued in branch 1 of Gorgan Revolutionary Court by judge Seyed Ebrahim Mousavi. His charges and sentences are listed as follows: > A: membership in Shoab Jamiat or Masses Against the Islamic Regime, whose objective is weakening the national security (3 years in prison) B: Propaganda against the Islamic Regime of Iran for the benefit of dissident groups and organizations (1 year) C: Cooperation with Voice of America as a body of the enemy state of America, and participation in programs with ties to them (9 years) D: Enticement and provocation of people for the purpose of weakening the national security (3 years) E: Insulting Imam Khomeini and the current supreme leader (2 years)." With the application of Article 134, the court has sentenced Reza Shahini collectively to 9 years in prison. Citing his efforts towards "a democratic and modern system" and his quotes in praising people's "non-violent resistance during the Green Movement, the court has found Reza Shahini deserving of this punishment. The sentence is documented in the Supporting Evidence section of this page </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='10983'> International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reported that Reza Shahini is kept among murder and smuggling criminals, and the prisoners have been asked not to have any interactions with him. He is being called a "spy" and a "foreigner", they have denied his library rights, and his request for being moved to Evin prison has been denied </coverage-outsourcing>