Hossein Derakhshan is an Iranian-born Canadian and a controversial writer who's known as the "blogfather" of Iran. He's being held in Iran's notorious Evin Prison. And today he was sentenced to 19 and a half years in prison. We talk to two people who are close to him.

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PART TWO

Hossein Derakhshan - Marjan Alem

We started this segment with a clip from Hossein Derakhshan speaking in 2006. He's an Iranian-born Canadian, a controversial writer known as the "blogfather" of Iran. In the fall of 2008, he did go back to Iran. He was then arrested and sent to the notorious Evin prison ... a place where Canadian journalist Maziar Bahari was tortured and where Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi was killed.

Hossein Derakhshan is charged with "creating propaganda against the Islamic regime" and "insulting religious sanctity." And we have just learned from our next guest today that he has been sentenced to 19 and a half years in prison. Marjan Alemi is Hossein Derakhshan's friend and ex-wife joined Anna Maria in our Toronto studio to tell us more.

Links: Hossein Derakhshan's mother speaks / Persian 'blogfather' Hossein Derakhshan faces death sentence / Iranian 'blogfather' Hossein Derakhshan could face death penalty / Canadian-Iranian blogger Hossein Derakhshan given 19-year jail term

Hossein Derakhshan - Maziar Bahari

Maziar Bahari has known Hossein Derakhshan for more than ten years. And they have a lot in common. Both are Iranian-born Canadian journalists who have run afoul of the Iranian Government. And each spent time in Iran's Evin Prison as a result.

Maziar Bahari is a correspondent with Newsweek Magazine and he spent 118 days in Evin Prison. He was released last October. Maziar Bahari was in London, England.