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Final Hearing for Reporter Held in Iran Is Scheduled for Monday Final Hearing for Reporter Held in Iran Is Scheduled for Monday
(about 7 hours later)
The final hearing in Iran’s espionage trial of Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post correspondent whose yearlong incarceration has helped worsen tensions with the United States, has been scheduled for Monday, the newspaper’s executive editor and Mr. Rezaian’s brother said Saturday.The final hearing in Iran’s espionage trial of Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post correspondent whose yearlong incarceration has helped worsen tensions with the United States, has been scheduled for Monday, the newspaper’s executive editor and Mr. Rezaian’s brother said Saturday.
They said that Mr. Rezaian’s Iranian lawyer, Leila Ahsan, had been notified of the final hearing in the trial, which has been held intermittently in a Tehran Revolutionary Court since May and is closed to the public.They said that Mr. Rezaian’s Iranian lawyer, Leila Ahsan, had been notified of the final hearing in the trial, which has been held intermittently in a Tehran Revolutionary Court since May and is closed to the public.
“The sham trial of Jason Rezaian, The Washington Post’s correspondent in Tehran, may now finally be nearing its end,” The Post’s executive editor, Martin Baron, said in a statement. He said the lawyer had been told that it would be “the final hearing before a verdict is reached.”“The sham trial of Jason Rezaian, The Washington Post’s correspondent in Tehran, may now finally be nearing its end,” The Post’s executive editor, Martin Baron, said in a statement. He said the lawyer had been told that it would be “the final hearing before a verdict is reached.”
It is unclear when a verdict may be announced.It is unclear when a verdict may be announced.
The Post, which has become increasingly outspoken in its criticism of Iran over the Rezaian case, sought intervention last month by a United Nations human rights panel to help pressure the Iranian authorities into releasing him.The Post, which has become increasingly outspoken in its criticism of Iran over the Rezaian case, sought intervention last month by a United Nations human rights panel to help pressure the Iranian authorities into releasing him.
Mr. Rezaian’s brother, Ali Rezaian, said in an email that Ms. Ahsan expected to finally be able to present her client’s defense at the Monday hearing.Mr. Rezaian’s brother, Ali Rezaian, said in an email that Ms. Ahsan expected to finally be able to present her client’s defense at the Monday hearing.
Mr. Rezaian, 39, an Iranian-American from California with dual citizenship, has been The Post’s correspondent in Tehran since 2012. He and his Iranian wife, Yeganeh Salehi, 30, were both arrested there on July 22, 2014.Mr. Rezaian, 39, an Iranian-American from California with dual citizenship, has been The Post’s correspondent in Tehran since 2012. He and his Iranian wife, Yeganeh Salehi, 30, were both arrested there on July 22, 2014.
Ms. Salehi, a reporter for a United Arab Emirates newspaper, was released on bail after a few months, ordered not to work and warned not to talk about the case.Ms. Salehi, a reporter for a United Arab Emirates newspaper, was released on bail after a few months, ordered not to work and warned not to talk about the case.
Only months later did the Iranian authorities disclose the charges against Mr. Rezaian, which include espionage and hostile acts. He has remained incarcerated, much of the time in solitary confinement.Only months later did the Iranian authorities disclose the charges against Mr. Rezaian, which include espionage and hostile acts. He has remained incarcerated, much of the time in solitary confinement.
Mr. Rezaian has asserted his innocence, and Ms. Ahsan has said the government has no evidence to support the charges.Mr. Rezaian has asserted his innocence, and Ms. Ahsan has said the government has no evidence to support the charges.
His family, friends, rights groups, The Post and the United States government have called the prosecution farcical.His family, friends, rights groups, The Post and the United States government have called the prosecution farcical.
“This is a critical moment,” Mr. Baron said. “Iran has behaved unconscionably throughout this travesty of a case. It has imprisoned an innocent journalist for more than a year and subjected him to physical mistreatment and psychological abuse.”“This is a critical moment,” Mr. Baron said. “Iran has behaved unconscionably throughout this travesty of a case. It has imprisoned an innocent journalist for more than a year and subjected him to physical mistreatment and psychological abuse.”
Mr. Rezaian is one of three Iranian-Americans with dual citizenship incarcerated by Iran. The Iranian authorities consider them Iranian citizens only, without the rights of diplomatic access afforded to prisoners from other countries.Mr. Rezaian is one of three Iranian-Americans with dual citizenship incarcerated by Iran. The Iranian authorities consider them Iranian citizens only, without the rights of diplomatic access afforded to prisoners from other countries.
Iran’s actions in the Rezaian case have taken on added significance since an international agreement was reached on the disputed Iranian nuclear program last month. Senate and House representatives, who will vote in September on whether to approve that agreement, have demanded in Congressional resolutions that Iran release Mr. Rezaian and the others: Amir Hekmati, 32, of Flint, Mich., and Saeed Abedini, 35, of Boise, Idaho. Iran’s actions in the Rezaian case have taken on added significance since an international agreement was reached on the disputed Iranian nuclear program last month. Senate and House representatives, who will vote in September on whether to approve that agreement, have demanded in congressional resolutions that Iran release Mr. Rezaian and the others: Amir Hekmati, 32, of Flint, Mich., and Saeed Abedini, 35, of Boise, Idaho.
Lawmakers have also demanded that Iran provide information on a fourth American, Robert A. Levinson, 67, who has been missing in Iran since 2007.Lawmakers have also demanded that Iran provide information on a fourth American, Robert A. Levinson, 67, who has been missing in Iran since 2007.