An American father and son, each serving 10-year prison sentences in Iran for allegedly collaborating with a foreign government, have lost their appeals.
Baquer Namazi, 81, and Siamak Namazi, 45, who both have US-Iranian dual citizenship were convicted of ‘cooperating with the hostile American government,’ according to a Mizan news agency report.
Siamak, a businessman, was arrested in October 2015.
Baquer Namazi (left) and Siamak Namazi (right) have lost their court appeal. The father and son were charged for cooperating with the US
His father, Baquer was a UNICEF representative who served as governor of Iran’s oil-rich Khuzestan province under the U.S.-backed shah.
He was arrested in February 2016, apparently drawn to Iran over fears about his incarcerated son.
Effie Namazi, Baquer’s wife, shared in a post on Facebook in 2016 her distress over her then 80-year-old husband’s arrest, according to CNN.
‘I must share the shocking and sad news that Baquer was arrested in Tehran late evening of 22 February 2016 and as far as I have been told by those who took him taken to Evin prison,’ she wrote.
Both Baquer and Siamak have US-Iran dual citizenship. Siamak was a businessman and his father was a UNICEF representative
‘Now both my innocent son Siamak and my Baquer are in prison for no reason. This is a nightmare I can’t describe.’
The two were taken to Evin – Tehran’s notorious prison, which holds political detainees.
Both Baquer and Siamak have suffered health problems related to their incarceration.
Siamak Namazi has spent much of his time in solitary confinement and ‘has been interrogated relentlessly, beaten and tased,’ according to the Associated Press.
Evin located in Tehran, Iran. It is known as Iran’s most brutal and infamous prison and where Baquer and Siamak are being jailed
‘I am deeply worried about the health of both of the Namazis, which has rapidly deteriorated,’ Jared Genser said.
They are believed to be among the only U.S. citizens still jailed in Iran following a prisoner exchange in January that saw three Americans released, including Washington Post journalist and dual Iranian national Jason Rezaian, according to the LA Times.
Jared Genser said Monday that Baquer and Siamak Namazi learned the day before that the Tehran Appeals Court denied their request.
Iranian officials and state media did not immediately report the failed appeal.
The Namazis are among a number of dual nationals held in Iran after the 2015 nuclear deal, which in-part, stated that Iran must significantly reduce its nuclear materials necessary to make a weapon.