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| Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian goes on trial in Iran for spying | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post reporter imprisoned in Iran for nearly 10 months, is standing trial behind closed doors in Tehran on charges of espionage and at least three other major crimes. | Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post reporter imprisoned in Iran for nearly 10 months, is standing trial behind closed doors in Tehran on charges of espionage and at least three other major crimes. |
| The Iranian-American appeared before a revolutionary court presided over by Abolghassem Salavati, a hardline judge notorious for handing down heavy sentences to opposition activists and dissidents, local media reported. | The Iranian-American appeared before a revolutionary court presided over by Abolghassem Salavati, a hardline judge notorious for handing down heavy sentences to opposition activists and dissidents, local media reported. |
| Rezaian’s lawyer, Leila Ahsan, told the semi-official Tasnim news agency: “He has been charged with espionage for collecting information about the country’s domestic and foreign policy issues.” She is not Rezaian’s lawyer of choice. | Rezaian’s lawyer, Leila Ahsan, told the semi-official Tasnim news agency: “He has been charged with espionage for collecting information about the country’s domestic and foreign policy issues.” She is not Rezaian’s lawyer of choice. |
| “According to the indictment, he is also facing the charges of collecting confidential information, collaborating with hostile governments, spreading propaganda against the Islamic republic and writing a letter to the US president [Barack] Obama,” she added. | “According to the indictment, he is also facing the charges of collecting confidential information, collaborating with hostile governments, spreading propaganda against the Islamic republic and writing a letter to the US president [Barack] Obama,” she added. |
| Rezaian, 39, who holds dual Iranian and American citizenship, was arrested at his home in Tehran in July 2014 along with his wife, Yeganeh Salehi, also a journalist, and two friends, an Iranian-American couple. Salehi was released on bail in October and is facing a separate trial. | Rezaian, 39, who holds dual Iranian and American citizenship, was arrested at his home in Tehran in July 2014 along with his wife, Yeganeh Salehi, also a journalist, and two friends, an Iranian-American couple. Salehi was released on bail in October and is facing a separate trial. |
| After a 90-minute meeting between Rezaian and his lawyer in April, the first such meeting between the two, it emerged that he has been charged with espionage. His family say the charges are baseless and unfounded. | After a 90-minute meeting between Rezaian and his lawyer in April, the first such meeting between the two, it emerged that he has been charged with espionage. His family say the charges are baseless and unfounded. |
| The Washington Post’s executive editor, Martin Baron, issued a statement before the start of Rezaian’s trial, condemning “the shameful acts of injustice” facing his Tehran correspondent. | The Washington Post’s executive editor, Martin Baron, issued a statement before the start of Rezaian’s trial, condemning “the shameful acts of injustice” facing his Tehran correspondent. |
| “No evidence has ever been produced by prosecutors or the court to support these absurd charges. The trial date was only disclosed to Jason’s lawyer last week. And now, unsurprisingly but unforgivably, it turns out the trial will be closed,” read the statement published on the Post’s website. | “No evidence has ever been produced by prosecutors or the court to support these absurd charges. The trial date was only disclosed to Jason’s lawyer last week. And now, unsurprisingly but unforgivably, it turns out the trial will be closed,” read the statement published on the Post’s website. |
| Baron said efforts by his paper to secure a visa for a senior editor to travel to Iran had been blocked. Rezaian’s mother, Mary, however, has been in Tehran for the past two weeks, though she has not been allowed to attend the trial, and nor has Salehi. | Baron said efforts by his paper to secure a visa for a senior editor to travel to Iran had been blocked. Rezaian’s mother, Mary, however, has been in Tehran for the past two weeks, though she has not been allowed to attend the trial, and nor has Salehi. |
| Baron added: “There is no justice in this system, not an ounce of it, and yet the fate of a good, innocent man hangs in the balance. Iran is making a statement about its values in its disgraceful treatment of our colleague, and it can only horrify the world community.” | Baron added: “There is no justice in this system, not an ounce of it, and yet the fate of a good, innocent man hangs in the balance. Iran is making a statement about its values in its disgraceful treatment of our colleague, and it can only horrify the world community.” |
| In April, Obama met Rezaian’s brother, Ali, at the White House correspondents’ dinner, reassuring him that the American government would do all it could to bring him home. | In April, Obama met Rezaian’s brother, Ali, at the White House correspondents’ dinner, reassuring him that the American government would do all it could to bring him home. |
| The president said during a speech at the event: “For nine months, Jason has been in prison for nothing more than writing about the hopes and fears of the Iranian people. I have told [Rezaian’s brother] personally that we will not rest until we bring him home to his family, safe and sound.” | The president said during a speech at the event: “For nine months, Jason has been in prison for nothing more than writing about the hopes and fears of the Iranian people. I have told [Rezaian’s brother] personally that we will not rest until we bring him home to his family, safe and sound.” |
| Before the trial opened, Ali Rezaian criticised the decision by the Iranian judiciary to hold it behind closed doors and said his brother had lost 18kg (40lb) while in jail. | Before the trial opened, Ali Rezaian criticised the decision by the Iranian judiciary to hold it behind closed doors and said his brother had lost 18kg (40lb) while in jail. |
| “I think the only reason you could possibly imagine that the trial would be closed would be to prevent people from seeing the lack of evidence,” he said. “It’s unlike the Iranian court system, Iranian government, to keep things private when they can go out and use propaganda up against people.” | “I think the only reason you could possibly imagine that the trial would be closed would be to prevent people from seeing the lack of evidence,” he said. “It’s unlike the Iranian court system, Iranian government, to keep things private when they can go out and use propaganda up against people.” |
| Related: Washington Post reporter facing interrogation as Iranian, minister says | Related: Washington Post reporter facing interrogation as Iranian, minister says |
| It is not still clear why Iran is accusing Rezaian of espionage. Ali Rezaian said two pieces of evidence against him were a visa application he had lodged for his Iranian wife in order to be able to travel to the US and a letter he sent to Obama’s 2008 White House transition team offering help to improve bilateral relations between Iran and the US. | It is not still clear why Iran is accusing Rezaian of espionage. Ali Rezaian said two pieces of evidence against him were a visa application he had lodged for his Iranian wife in order to be able to travel to the US and a letter he sent to Obama’s 2008 White House transition team offering help to improve bilateral relations between Iran and the US. |
| Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, who has described Rezaian as a fair reporter, said in April that Rezaian was accused of “a very serious offence” but he hoped he would be cleared of the charges against him. | Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, who has described Rezaian as a fair reporter, said in April that Rezaian was accused of “a very serious offence” but he hoped he would be cleared of the charges against him. |
| Zarif said at the time: “He is an Iranian citizen. It is unfortunate that some over-zealous, low-level operative tried to take advantage of him. And I don’t go into further detail because it’s a pending case before the court. And I hope that he will be cleared of that charge.” | Zarif said at the time: “He is an Iranian citizen. It is unfortunate that some over-zealous, low-level operative tried to take advantage of him. And I don’t go into further detail because it’s a pending case before the court. And I hope that he will be cleared of that charge.” |
| In the past few months, a number of hardline Iranian media outlets have tried to build a cause against him. Unattributed accusations printed in the Iranian press allege that Rezaian worked undercover as a spy while reporting in the country for the Post. A Fars news agency report alleged that Rezaian provided economic and industrial data to the US government. | In the past few months, a number of hardline Iranian media outlets have tried to build a cause against him. Unattributed accusations printed in the Iranian press allege that Rezaian worked undercover as a spy while reporting in the country for the Post. A Fars news agency report alleged that Rezaian provided economic and industrial data to the US government. |
| Ahsan said at the time in response to the accusations: “Jason is a journalist, and it is in the nature of his profession to gain access to information and publish them. My client, however, has never had any direct or indirect access to classified information to share with anyone.” | Ahsan said at the time in response to the accusations: “Jason is a journalist, and it is in the nature of his profession to gain access to information and publish them. My client, however, has never had any direct or indirect access to classified information to share with anyone.” |
| Iran does not recognise dual citizenship and treats Rezaian as solely Iranian. Iranian intelligence authorities have a deep suspicion of dual citizens and have arrested a number in recent years. | Iran does not recognise dual citizenship and treats Rezaian as solely Iranian. Iranian intelligence authorities have a deep suspicion of dual citizens and have arrested a number in recent years. |
| The country has a history of jailing journalists working for the foreign press. Those previously jailed in Iran include Maziar Bahari, whose ordeal in prison was the subject of Rosewater, a film by the US comedian Jon Stewart recently released in the UK. | The country has a history of jailing journalists working for the foreign press. Those previously jailed in Iran include Maziar Bahari, whose ordeal in prison was the subject of Rosewater, a film by the US comedian Jon Stewart recently released in the UK. |