This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/14/world/middleeast/new-hearing-begins-in-iran-for-jason-rezaian-of-washington-post.html

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
New Hearing Begins in Iran for Jason Rezaian of Washington Post New Hearing Begins in Iran for Washington Post Correspondent Jason Rezaian
(about 2 hours later)
A third hearing in the espionage trial of Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post correspondent who has been imprisoned in Iran for nearly a year, was underway on Monday in Tehran, the state news agency IRNA reported. TEHRAN — A third hearing in the espionage trial of Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post correspondent who has been imprisoned in Iran for nearly a year, was underway on Monday in Tehran, the state news agency IRNA reported.
In an emailed message, Mr. Rezaian’s brother said on Sunday night that the Iranian defense lawyer in the case had been recently informed of the hearing date. The lawyer, Leila Ahsan, has been prohibited from discussing the proceedings, and the trial is closed to the public. Mr. Rezaian, 39, is accused of engaging in espionage on behalf of the United States government and conducting activities against Iran, IRNA reported. He has denied the accusations.
“Jason’s continued detention is as baseless as it is cruel and unjust,” the brother, Ali Rezaian, said in the message. “We ask the Iranian judiciary to put an end to the delays in his trial, release Jason and allow him to reunite with his family.” Mr. Rezaian is one of at least three Americans in Iranian prisons, an issue repeatedly raised by American negotiators in nuclear talks with Iran, though there has been no indication that it would be part of any deal.
Mr. Rezaian, 39, is one of at least three Americans in Iranian prisons, an issue repeatedly raised by American negotiators in nuclear talks with Iran, though there has been no indication that it would be part of any deal.
Mr. Rezaian’s mother, Mary, who lives in Turkey, has been permitted to visit him a few times, but her effort to attend the trial has been rebuffed.Mr. Rezaian’s mother, Mary, who lives in Turkey, has been permitted to visit him a few times, but her effort to attend the trial has been rebuffed.
The Rezaian case has come to typify what critics of Iran have called its arbitrary and opaque judicial system. Mr. Rezaian was arrested on July 22, 2014, and placed in solitary confinement for long periods. The judiciary did not disclose the nature of the charges against him for months, and it restricted his access to legal counsel. Ms. Ahsan has said that the evidence she has seen does not support the charges against him. “We have no idea what happened, we were not able to see Jason,” she told reporters on Monday.
As negotiators from Iran and six world powers were trying to hammer out the remaining details of what could be a historic deal that would limit Tehran’s nuclear ability, Ms. Rezaian told ABC that she was disappointed her son was not able to cover the event.
“I wish Jason was out so he could cover this wonderful story of Iran and the U.S.,” Ms. Rezaian said.
She reiterated to reporters that Mr. Rezaian was innocent. “Jason is not a murderer, not a spy,” she said. “We want him to be released.”
The Rezaian case has come to typify what critics of Iran have called its arbitrary and opaque judicial system. Mr. Rezaian was arrested on July 22, 2014, and placed in solitary confinement for long periods. The judiciary did not disclose the nature of the charges against him for months, and it restricted his access to legal counsel. Leila Ahsan, his lawyer, has said that the evidence she has seen does not support the charges against him.
The other Americans held in Iran include Amir Hekmati, 31, a Marine veteran from Flint, Mich., and Saeed Abedini, 34, a Christian cleric from Boise, Idaho.The other Americans held in Iran include Amir Hekmati, 31, a Marine veteran from Flint, Mich., and Saeed Abedini, 34, a Christian cleric from Boise, Idaho.
A fourth American, Robert A. Levinson, 67, disappeared in Iran eight years ago. The Iranian authorities have said they have no information on his whereabouts.A fourth American, Robert A. Levinson, 67, disappeared in Iran eight years ago. The Iranian authorities have said they have no information on his whereabouts.
In an emailed message, Mr. Rezaian’s brother said on Sunday night that Ms. Ahsan had been recently informed of the hearing date. She has been prohibited from discussing the proceedings, and the trial is closed to the public.
“Jason’s continued detention is as baseless as it is cruel and unjust,” the brother, Ali Rezaian, said in the message. “We ask the Iranian judiciary to put an end to the delays in his trial, release Jason and allow him to reunite with his family.”