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Reza Khandan

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Reza Khandan (Persian: رضا خندان) is an Iranian human rights activist and graphic designer. The husband of human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, Khandan has campaigned against compulsory veiling and the death penalty in Iran and publicly advocated for his wife when she was imprisoned between 2018 and 2021. In 2019, Khandan was charged in absentia with breaching national security and distributing anti-state propaganda, and was recalled to prison to carry out his sentence in 2024.

Personal life

Khandan is married to Nasrin Sotoudeh, with whom he has two children, Mehraveh and Nima, and lives in Tehran.

Activism

Sotoudeh rose to prominence in Iran for representing imprisoned Iranian opposition activists following the 2009 presidential elections. She also represented adults sentenced to death for crimes committed as children, as well as women arrested for appearing in public without a hijab. Khandan publicly supported women's right to choose whether or not to veil, and stated he was against the forced imposition of any religion or belief by the Iranian government.

Sotoudeh was arrested in 2018 and charged with espionage, the dissemination of propaganda, and disparaging Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran. In March 2019, she was sentenced to 38 years imprisonment in addition to 148 lashes. Khandan became a more prominent figure nationally and internationally after he began publicly campaigning for Sotoudeh's release. Khandan and fellow activist Farhad Meysami created thousands of badges reading "I oppose the mandatory hijab" in Persian; Khandan also frequently posted updates about Sotoudeh on social media. Khandan was featured in Nasrin, a 2020 documentary by American filmmaker Jeff Kaufman.

In July 2021, Sotoudeh was released from prison on medical furlough.

Arrest and imprisonment

In September 2018, Khandan was arrested and charged with "spreading propaganda against the system" and "colluding to commit crimes against national security" after posting updates about Sotoudeh's case on social media, in addition to speaking out against mandatory veiling for Iranian women and had also started a petition calling for the immediate commutation of the death sentence issued to Kurdish activist Pakhshan Azizi. Khandan was arrested alongside fellow activist Farhad Meysami with whom he had distributed anti-mandatory veiling badges. The Centre for Human Rights in Iran called Khandan's arrest "a blatant attempt by the Iranian authorities to pressure Sotoudeh, as well as , into silence". Khandan was released on bail in December 2018.

On 22 January 2019, Khandan and Meysami were both tried (Khandan in absentia) by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. Khandan received a five year prison sentence for crimes against national security, and an addition one year sentence for spreading anti-state propaganda. He was also banned from leaving Iran and engaging in online activities. Khandan's sentence was reduced to three years and six months by the Court of Appeal.

In February 2023, Khandan received summons to complete his 2019 prison sentence. The decision was criticised by PEN America and the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute. Khandan ultimately was not recalled to prison.

On 12 December 2024, Khandan was arrested at his home in Tehran and transported to a local police station. Sotoudeh attempted to visit him but was prevented from doing so after she refused to wear a chador. The following day, Khandan was taken to court before being sent to Evin Prison. Khandan's daughter Mehvareh confirmed Khandan's arrest on social media, and Khandan's legal team and wife subsequently reported that Khandan had been arrested in order to complete his 2019 prison sentence. Khandan's lawyers stated their intent to appeal to the Supreme Court to secure Khandan's release.

References

  1. ^ Kaufman, Jeff (2024-12-22). "Nasrin Sotoudeh Speaks Out: Husband Reza Khandan Sits in Evin Prison for Supporting Women's Freedom in Iran". Ms. Archived from the original on 2024-12-30. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  2. ^ "Leading activist arrested in Iran: daughter, lawyer". The New Arab. 2024-12-14. Archived from the original on 2025-01-01. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  3. Kaufman, Jeff (2023-05-22). "Opinion: A button, a love story, and an Iranian couple who will not be silenced". CNN. Archived from the original on 2024-12-30. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  4. ^ "PEN America Condemns Prison Summons Issued to Reza Khandan, Husband to Prominent Iranian Human Rights Lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh". PEN America. 2023-02-14. Archived from the original on 2023-03-20. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  5. Saranj, Parisa (2023-04-03). "'I Oppose the Mandatory Hijab' Button Campaign Puts Iranian Women's Rights Front and Center". Ms. Archived from the original on 2025-01-06. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  6. ^ "Iran: IBAHRI condemns prison sentence against Reza Khandan and calls for charges to be dropped". International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute. 2023-02-21. Archived from the original on 2024-04-25. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  7. "Iran: Husband of hunger-striking human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh arrested". Amnesty International. 2018-09-04. Archived from the original on 2024-04-12. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  8. "انجمن قلم آمریکا خواستار آزادی فوری رضا خندان، فعال مدنی شد" [PEN America calls for immediate release of civil activist Reza Khandan]. Deutsche Welle (in Persian). 2024-12-14. Archived from the original on 2024-12-27. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  9. "Iranian Rights Activist Reza Khandan Gets Six-Year Prison Sentence". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 2019-01-23. Archived from the original on 2024-09-29. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  10. ^ "Reza Khandan began serving a three year and six months prison sentence issued in 2019". Front Line Defenders. 2024-12-18. Archived from the original on 2024-12-18. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  11. ^ "Reza Khandan, Husband of Prominent Activist Nasrin Sotoudeh, Arrested in Tehran". IranWire. 2024-12-13. Retrieved 2025-01-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. Saranj, Parisa (2023-04-03). "'I Oppose the Mandatory Hijab' Button Campaign Puts Iranian Women's Rights Front and Center". Ms. Archived from the original on 2025-01-06. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  13. "Reza Khandan, husband of Nasrin Sotoudeh, arrested by security forces in Tehran". Hengaw. 2024-12-14. Archived from the original on 2024-12-14. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  14. Alavi, Milad (2025-01-12). "​بازداشت رضا خندان برای اجرای حکم پرونده سال ۹۷/ او مجموعا به تحمل ۴ سال و یک ماه حبس محکوم شده است" [Reza Khandan detained to implement the verdict of 2018 case/He has been sentenced to a total of 4 years and one month in prison]. Shargh (in Persian). Archived from the original on 2024-12-27. Retrieved 2025-01-12. {{cite web}}: zero width space character in |title= at position 1 (help)