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Jason Rezaian May Soon Get Verdict, Lawyer Says, as Iran Holds 4th Hearing Jason Rezaian of Washington Post May Soon Get Verdict in Iran, Lawyer Says
(35 minutes later)
TEHRAN — An Iranian court could hand down a verdict in the trial of Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post correspondent charged with espionage, within a week, his lawyer told reporters on Monday, as a fourth and possibly final hearing in the case was held in Tehran.TEHRAN — An Iranian court could hand down a verdict in the trial of Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post correspondent charged with espionage, within a week, his lawyer told reporters on Monday, as a fourth and possibly final hearing in the case was held in Tehran.
The lawyer, Leila Ahsan, told reporters “this was the final hearing” and said that Iranian law called for a verdict to be issued by next Monday. The lawyer, Leila Ahsan, told reporters that “this was the final hearing” and said that Iranian law called for a verdict to be issued by next Monday.
But the official website of Iran’s judiciary, Mizan News Agency, quoted from “a knowledgeable source” as saying that Mr. Rezaian, who has been detained in Iran for more than a year, had stated his final defense but that it would be up to the judge to decide whether more hearings were necessary. The Mizan News Agency, which is affiliated with Iran’s judiciary, quoted “a knowledgeable source” as saying that Mr. Rezaian, who has been detained in Iran for more than a year, gave his final defense but that it would be up to the judge to decide whether more hearings were necessary.
As in previous hearings, the proceedings were held behind closed doors and presided over by Abolqasem Salavati, a judge who is notoriously hard-line. Both Mr. Rezaian’s mother, Mary, and his wife, Yeganeh Salehi, were denied entry to the courtroom. As in previous hearings, the proceedings were held behind closed doors and presided over by Abolqasem Salavati, a notoriously hard-line judge. Both Mr. Rezaian’s mother, Mary, and his wife, Yeganeh Salehi, were denied entry to the courtroom.
Outside the courthouse, Mary Rezaian told reporters that her son was an ordinary journalist, working “just like others” in Iran. She said the trial had turned into a political issue and challenged Iran’s judiciary to be transparent. Outside the courthouse, Ms. Rezaian told reporters that her son was an ordinary journalist, working “just like others” in Iran. She said the trial had turned into a political issue and challenged Iran’s judiciary to be transparent.
“If the judiciary is really independent, let them organize a public trial and prove whether my son has done anything wrong,” she said, while being comforted by Ms. Salehi. “They cannot prove that he is a spy as there is no evidence.”“If the judiciary is really independent, let them organize a public trial and prove whether my son has done anything wrong,” she said, while being comforted by Ms. Salehi. “They cannot prove that he is a spy as there is no evidence.”
The case highlights the dangers for Iranian-Americans holding dual nationality who travel to Iran. Mr. Rezaian’s detention, and that of three other American dual nationals in Iran, has fanned tensions with the United States. The cases have taken on added resonance after an international agreement last month over Iran’s nuclear program. The case highlights the dangers for Iranian-Americans holding dual nationality, like Mr. Rezaian, who travel to Iran. Mr. Rezaian’s detention, and that of other American dual citizens in Iran, has fanned tensions with the United States. The cases have taken on added resonance after an international agreement last month over Iran’s nuclear program.
“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 over the weekend. He said Ms. Ahsan 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 over the weekend. He said Ms. Ahsan had been told that it would be “the final hearing before a verdict is reached.”
“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.”
The Post last month sought intervention by a United Nations human rights panel in the case, which has been seen by rights groups as an example of the opaqueness of the Iranian legal system. Last month, The Post sought intervention by a United Nations human rights panel in the case.
Mr. Rezaian, 39, an Iranian-American from California who has dual citizenship, has been The Post’s correspondent in Tehran since 2012. He and were arrested there on July 22, 2014. Ms. Salehi was later released. Mr. Rezaian, 39, who is from California, has been The Post’s correspondent in Tehran since 2012. He and his wife were arrested there on July 22, 2014. Ms. Salehi was later released.
Mr. Rezaian faces up to 20 years in jail, but he would be able to appeal, The Associated Press reported.Mr. Rezaian faces up to 20 years in jail, but he would be able to appeal, The Associated Press reported.