Vague verdict issued for Washinton Post reporter, further mudding waters of unclear trial
Americas
Vague verdict issued for Washinton Post reporter, further mudding waters of unclear trial
Iran’s judiciary said on Sunday that a ruling had been issued in the espionage trial of Iranian-American journalist Jason Rezaian, but gave no further details about the case, which has complicated moves to ease hostility between Washington and Tehran. California-born Rezaian, the Washington Post’s Tehran bureau chief, was arrested in July 2014 —accused of collecting confidential information and handing it to hostile governments, writing a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama and acting against national security.
If a ruling has been issued and is now being reviewed, this puts on the onus on Iran’s senior leaders to demonstrate the fairness and justice that could only lead to Jason’s exoneration and release.
Martin Baron, Washington Post’s executive editor
The Post described the proceedings against its reporter, whose final hearing was on Aug. 10, as a “sham trial”. Rezaian’s brother Ali issued a statement on Friday noting that the journalist had been held in prison for 444 days, the same length of time that American embassy staff were held after the seizure of the U.S. embassy in Tehran in 1979. Hopes were raised in Washington that Rezaian and other Americans held in Iran may be freed after Iran reached agreement with the United States and other major powers in July to curb its nuclear program in return for relief from sanctions, and last month Iranian parliament hinted at the possibility of releasing Rezaian in exchange for Iranian prisoners, but officials have since played down the possibility of any such swap.
My brother’s life has been cruelly interrupted, despite his obvious innocence, so that Iran can continue to use him as a political pawn.
Ali Rezaian, Jason’s brother.
