Hossein Mirdamadi, the father of jailed journalist Serajeddin Mirdamai, says the judge in his son’s case has said that he will be made an example so that other journalists will not think of returning to Iran.
Serajeddin Mirdamadi returned to Iran with his family following the victory of Hassan Rohani in the presidential election of 2013; the moderate candidate had promised during the campaign race to open up Iran’s political system.
Hossein Mirdamadi told the Jaras website: "These treatments are a way of making Mr, Rohani look bad because he had called on those who had left the country to return, and such treatments contradict his statements.”
Mirdamadi has been sentenced to five years in jail in preliminary court for the charge of “propaganda against the regime” and “assembly and collusion against National Security.”
He has also been issued a two-year ban from traveling abroad following his five-year sentence.
After Mirdamadi's return, Hossein Nouraninejad, a political activist and member of the Islamic Iran Participation Front, also returned to Iran, in this case from Australia, and was sentenced to six years in jail.
