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Iran Sets Trial Date for Washington Post Reporter Jason Rezaian Iran Sets Trial Date for Washington Post Reporter Jason Rezaian
(about 2 hours later)
TEHRAN — The trial of Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post correspondent who has been detained in Iran for almost 10 months and accused of spying for the United States, will begin on May 26, the judicial authorities told state news media on Tuesday. TEHRAN — Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post correspondent who has been detained in Iran for almost 10 months and accused of spying for the United States, will go on trial on May 26, the judicial authorities told state news media on Tuesday.
Mr. Rezaian; his wife, Yeganeh Salehi, who is also a journalist; and a third defendant will go on trial at a revolutionary court, and the proceedings are expected to be held in private. Mr. Rezaian; his wife, Yeganeh Salehi, who is also a journalist; and a third defendant will appear before a revolutionary court, in what is expected to be a closed proceeding.
Mr. Rezaian is accused of “espionage for the hostile government of the United States of America and propaganda activities against the system,” Mahmoud Razavian, a spokesman for the office of the judiciary, said in an interview with the state-run news agency IRNA.Mr. Rezaian is accused of “espionage for the hostile government of the United States of America and propaganda activities against the system,” Mahmoud Razavian, a spokesman for the office of the judiciary, said in an interview with the state-run news agency IRNA.
The remarks are consistent with recent reports in the Iranian news media that hold particularly anti-American views, calling Mr. Rezaian a spy with links to Iranian expatriates in the United States and Europe. The remarks are consistent with recent reports in the Iranian news media calling Mr. Rezaian a spy with links to Iranian expatriates in the United States and Europe.
In a statement, the executive editor of The Washington Post, Martin Baron, described the prosecution of Mr. Rezaian as “contemptible” and said, “The serious criminal charges that Jason now faces in Iran’s Revolutionary Court are not supported by a single fact.” In a statement, the executive editor of The Washington Post, Martin Baron, described the prosecution of Mr. Rezaian as “contemptible.”
Mr. Rezaian’s lawyer, who also represents Ms. Salehi, said that she learned of the trial date through the news media. “The serious criminal charges that Jason now faces in Iran’s Revolutionary Court are not supported by a single fact,” Mr. Baron said.
“They have confirmed the news,” the lawyer, Leila Ahsan, said. “I believe my clients are innocent and must be acquitted, that is what I expect.” The Revolutionary Court typically handles cases involving national security, drug smuggling and espionage, the United States Institute of Peace said in a background paper. After the political upheaval following the disputed 2009 presidential election, the Revolutionary Court held a series of show trials for more than 250 journalists, human rights advocates, opposition politicians and protesters that featured forced confessions and heavy prison sentences, and sometimes executions.
She also said she would ask for the trial to be open. “But I do not expect that to be the case,” she said. Mr. Rezaian’s lawyer, who also represents Ms. Salehi, said that she learned of the trial date through the news media. “They have confirmed the news,” the lawyer, Leila Ahsan, said. “I believe my clients are innocent and must be acquitted. That is what I expect.”
Iranian revolutionary courts are different from regular courts and rarely allow journalists to observe the proceedings. Ms. Ahsan also said she would ask for the trial to be open but acknowledged, “I do not expect that to be the case.”
The judge will be Abolghassem Salavati, who was called the “judge of death” for imposing at least a half-dozen execution sentences after the political upheaval surrounding the 2009 presidential election. The European Union included him on a 2011 blacklist of Iranian officials accused of human rights violations. Mr. Rezaian’s family and supporters could hardly take heart at the selection of Abolghassem Salavati as the presiding judge in the case. He earned the title “judge of death” for imposing at least a half-dozen capital sentences after the 2009 protests, and the European Union included him on a 2011 blacklist of Iranian officials accused of human rights violations.
“The proceedings against him have been anything but fair and open — if they had been, Jason would never have been subjected to outrageous prison conditions, obstacles to selecting a lawyer, limited time to prepare a defense, and an inadequate window on the case that Iran plans to bring against him,” Mr. Baron said. “The absence of evidence against him should have led to dismissal of the case long ago.” “The proceedings against him have been anything but fair and open — if they had been, Jason would never have been subjected to outrageous prison conditions, obstacles to selecting a lawyer, limited time to prepare a defense and an inadequate window on the case that Iran plans to bring against him,” Mr. Baron said. “The absence of evidence against him should have led to dismissal of the case long ago.”