Convicted: Iran court finds Washington Post reporter guilty in espionage case
World
Convicted: Iran court finds Washington Post reporter guilty in espionage case
Iranian authorities have announced that Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, who has been detained for more than a year on espionage allegations, has been convicted. The government, however, has not made public further details on the ruling. Rezaian faced multiple charges, including espionage, in a closed-door trial that has been widely criticized by the U.S. government and press freedom organizations. He reportedly faces up to 20 years in prison. Meanwhile, The Washington Post on Monday denounced the espionage conviction of the newspaper’s American-born Tehran correspondent as an “outrageous injustice” and urged Iran’s leaders to overturn it.
Iran has behaved unconscionably throughout this case … The contemptible end to this ‘judicial process’ leaves Iran’s senior leaders with an obligation to right this grievous wrong.
Martin Baron, Washington Post executive editor
Rezaian can appeal the conviction within 20 days, Iranian authorities said. He was detained with his wife, who is a journalist for the National newspaper in the United Arab Emirates, and two photojournalists on July 22, 2014. All were later released, except Rezaian.
