Interview: "Iran's judiciary not upholding rights of my father and his wife"

A U.S.-Iranian dual citizen of the Zoroastrian faith and his wife were given prison sentences and had their assets seized in a closed-door trial in Iran, in January.

Karan Vafadari and his wife Afarin Nisari were sentenced to 27 and 16 years in prison respectively for “acts against national security,” DHRC founder and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi confirmed in an interview with Radio Farda January 29.

Nisari was the manager of a Tehran art gallery and Vafadari was a businessman.

DHRC sources say the judge in the case, Abolghassem Salavati, condemned the couple without any reliable evidence against them. Vafadari and his wife have repeatedly denied the charges.

Salavati is notorious for passing harsh sentences against dissidents and minorities.

Hannah Kaviani spoke to Cyrus Vafadari about condition of his father and his wife.

Why are you speaking out now?

Are you concerned about the harsh sentences they received?

Karan Vafadari, Iranian-American Zoroastrian and his wife Afari Nisari.

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Have you been in touch and what state is your father in ?

What do you think about the charges against your parents?

What is your opinion about the letter that your father wrote to the Zoroastrian community from prison?