Rezaian faced multiple charges including espionage in a closed-door trial that has been widely criticized by the US government and press freedom organizations.
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The Washington Post condemned the guilty verdict against its…
Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian, imprisoned in Tehran for more than 14 months, has been convicted following an espionage trial that ended in August, Iranian media reported on Monday.
Of course, 52 American hostages were held in captivity by Iran for 444 days at the American embassy in Tehran until the day Ronald Reagan was sworn into office.
If the Obama Administration had any resolve they would have made the release of all Americans held in captivity a pre-condition for negotiating a nuclear deal. “He has spent almost 15 months locked up in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison, more than three times as long than any other Western journalists”. As of Monday, Rezaian has been imprisoned for 447 days.
Washington Post executive editor Martin Baron called the outcome “contemptible”. “For now, no sentence has been announced”, he said in a statement Monday.
Ali told the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in Geneva that Iran had violated worldwide law – in addition to its own laws – in subjecting his brother to interrogation, solitary confinement and a closed- door trial.
Ejehi discussed Rezaian’s case during a press conference earlier Sunday that was restricted to Iranian media.
“Today’s events are just the latest in what has always been a travesty of justice and an ongoing nightmare for Jason and our family”, his brother said in a statement. “To follow our defense programs, we don’t ask permission from anyone”, Iran’s defense minister pointedly stated. The charges against him are thought to carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
The conviction has also led to speculation that Iran might opt for a prisoner swap with the United States since a sentence has not been announced.
While the conviction could not be independently confirmed – a spokesman for the Iranian judiciary said Sunday a verdict had been handed down, but he did not disclose specifics – Iran appeared to be moving Monday to position Rezaian’s case as part of a broader effort to get the release of Iranians detained in the United States.
“Unfortunately, this is not surprising given that this process has been opaque and incomprehensible from the start”, Kirby said.
Little is yet known about Mr Rezaian’s conviction.
The paper is working with Rezaian’s family and legal counsel to swiftly appeal the verdict and push for his release on bail pending a final decision, Baron said.
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Ali Rezaian said the ordeal has been a “nightmare” for his family. Between 2005 and 2007, he wrote the “Inside Iran” blog for The Chronicle.
