This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/8191061.stm
The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 14 | Version 15 |
|---|---|
| Embassy workers on trial in Iran | Embassy workers on trial in Iran |
| (5 days later) | |
| Two Iranian employees of the British and French embassies and a French teacher have gone on trial in Tehran alongside Iranian opposition figures. | Two Iranian employees of the British and French embassies and a French teacher have gone on trial in Tehran alongside Iranian opposition figures. |
| Hundreds were arrested during protests that erupted in the wake of the disputed 12 June presidential election. | Hundreds were arrested during protests that erupted in the wake of the disputed 12 June presidential election. |
| Those on trial are accused of acting against Iran's national security by taking part in the protests and spying. | Those on trial are accused of acting against Iran's national security by taking part in the protests and spying. |
| France called for the French teacher and embassy employee to be freed. The EU expressed its concern at the trial. | France called for the French teacher and embassy employee to be freed. The EU expressed its concern at the trial. |
| Last week more than 100 people appeared in court in Tehran on charges including conspiracy. Several leading reformers were among the detainees. | Last week more than 100 people appeared in court in Tehran on charges including conspiracy. Several leading reformers were among the detainees. |
| Opposition leaders say such proceedings are "show trials". | Opposition leaders say such proceedings are "show trials". |
| There were reports on Saturday that riot police dispersed a large crowd, including relatives of defendants, outside the court. | There were reports on Saturday that riot police dispersed a large crowd, including relatives of defendants, outside the court. |
| 'Spying for foreigners' | 'Spying for foreigners' |
| This is the second group trial of those accused of taking part in the post-election unrest. Reformist lawmakers and journalists were among the group, all wearing grey prison clothes. | This is the second group trial of those accused of taking part in the post-election unrest. Reformist lawmakers and journalists were among the group, all wearing grey prison clothes. |
| Hossein Rassam, the most senior Iranian employee at the British embassy, is accused of "spying for foreigners", Iranian state media quoted the judge as saying. | Hossein Rassam, the most senior Iranian employee at the British embassy, is accused of "spying for foreigners", Iranian state media quoted the judge as saying. |
| Mr Rassam was held after the protests with eight other embassy colleagues and later released on bail. | Mr Rassam was held after the protests with eight other embassy colleagues and later released on bail. |
| In pictures: Iranian mass trial | In pictures: Iranian mass trial |
| Prosecutors accuse him of monitoring the riots on the ground along with two UK diplomats who have since been expelled. | Prosecutors accuse him of monitoring the riots on the ground along with two UK diplomats who have since been expelled. |
| The prosecutors say he was asked to meet representatives of political groups, ethnic and religious minorities and student groups, and inform London about the riots, state media reported. | The prosecutors say he was asked to meet representatives of political groups, ethnic and religious minorities and student groups, and inform London about the riots, state media reported. |
| State media said Mr Rassam had apologised for "the clear violations he had committed". | State media said Mr Rassam had apologised for "the clear violations he had committed". |
| In London, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Office called the trial "completely unacceptable". | In London, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Office called the trial "completely unacceptable". |
| "We deplore these trials and the so-called confessions of prisoners who have been denied their basic human rights," she said. | "We deplore these trials and the so-called confessions of prisoners who have been denied their basic human rights," she said. |
| An Iranian employee of the French embassy, Nazak Ashfar, was also in the dock, state media said, as was French teacher Clotilde Reiss. | An Iranian employee of the French embassy, Nazak Ashfar, was also in the dock, state media said, as was French teacher Clotilde Reiss. |
| The 24-year-old was stopped on 1 July as she prepared to leave Tehran, having spent five months as a university teaching assistant. | The 24-year-old was stopped on 1 July as she prepared to leave Tehran, having spent five months as a university teaching assistant. |
| She is accused of "collecting information and provoking rioters", and has been charged with acting against national security, Irna news agency said. | She is accused of "collecting information and provoking rioters", and has been charged with acting against national security, Irna news agency said. |
| Hundreds were detained after violent protests that followed June's election | Hundreds were detained after violent protests that followed June's election |
| The agency said she had told the court that she had written a one-page report about the situation in Isfahan and given it to the French embassy's cultural section. | The agency said she had told the court that she had written a one-page report about the situation in Isfahan and given it to the French embassy's cultural section. |
| Ms Reiss told the court she regretted taking part in the protests. | Ms Reiss told the court she regretted taking part in the protests. |
| "My motive to take part in the gatherings was a personal one. But I accept that it was a mistake and I should not have gone to these gatherings," she told the court, according to AFP. | "My motive to take part in the gatherings was a personal one. But I accept that it was a mistake and I should not have gone to these gatherings," she told the court, according to AFP. |
| The French foreign ministry said on Saturday that the allegations against her were "devoid of any foundation", and that those against Nazak Ashfar were "non-existent". | The French foreign ministry said on Saturday that the allegations against her were "devoid of any foundation", and that those against Nazak Ashfar were "non-existent". |
| The Swedish presidency of the EU expressed concern at the trial, saying it considered it an act against the whole European Union. | The Swedish presidency of the EU expressed concern at the trial, saying it considered it an act against the whole European Union. |
| 'Nothing illegal' | 'Nothing illegal' |
| Rights groups say that hundreds of people including reformist politicians, journalists, activists and lawyers have been detained in Iran since the election. | Rights groups say that hundreds of people including reformist politicians, journalists, activists and lawyers have been detained in Iran since the election. |
| The poll saw President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad returned to power, but opposition leaders insist the election was rigged. | The poll saw President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad returned to power, but opposition leaders insist the election was rigged. |
| In last week's trials, some of those in the dock made public confessions, saying they had made up their complaints against the elections to provoke unrest. | In last week's trials, some of those in the dock made public confessions, saying they had made up their complaints against the elections to provoke unrest. |
| However, Iran's Prosecutor General, Ghorban Ali Dori Najafabadi, has said that confessions will not be the sole basis for the prosecution of suspects. | However, Iran's Prosecutor General, Ghorban Ali Dori Najafabadi, has said that confessions will not be the sole basis for the prosecution of suspects. |
| "The judicial system will base its ruling on the suspects' files and the evidence presented at courts," he was quoted as saying on Thursday. | "The judicial system will base its ruling on the suspects' files and the evidence presented at courts," he was quoted as saying on Thursday. |
| He denied that the confessions were extracted using illegal measures. | He denied that the confessions were extracted using illegal measures. |