European Knight
04-13-2015, 12:27 PM
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/12/us-journalist-jason-rezaian-to-stand-trial-in-iran-says-news-agency
Washington Post reporter, who was detained in Tehran in July 2014, said to be facing espionage charges
A Washington Post journalist detained in Iran for more than eight months is to stand trial accused of espionage and acting against national security, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Sunday.
The report did not elaborate on the source of the information, but the agency is regarded as close to Iran’s hardliners.
Iranian officials have said Jason Rezaian is facing “security” charges and that he will stand trial in the revolutionary court, which mainly hears cases involving security offences.
Rezaian, along with his wife, Yeganeh Salehi, and two photojournalists were detained on 22 July 2014 in Tehran. All were later released except Rezaian, who is a dual US-Iranian citizen. Iran does not recognise dual nationality.
The Washington Post, US officials and Rezaian’s mother have called for his release. They could not immediately be reached for comment.
The Fars report alleged Rezaian had obtained economic and industrial information from Iran and sold it to unnamed Americans. It also linked him to Omid Memarian, an Iranian opposition journalist based in the US.
“Selling Iran’s economic and industrial information at a time of sanctions is exactly like selling food to the enemy at a time of war,” Fars alleged.
Iran is under crippling sanctions over its nuclear program, which western nations suspect is aimed at developing an atomic weapons capability. Iran insists the program is for purely peaceful purposes.
Hardliners in Iran have claimed that Rezaian had access to sensitive information through contacts at the office of President Hassan Rouhani, a relative moderate.
http://i.guim.co.uk/static/w-1920/h--/q-95/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2015/4/12/1428860293597/ae44ce7a-404b-4735-99e6-c6c3ff372ebe-2060x1236.jpeg
Washington Post reporter, who was detained in Tehran in July 2014, said to be facing espionage charges
A Washington Post journalist detained in Iran for more than eight months is to stand trial accused of espionage and acting against national security, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Sunday.
The report did not elaborate on the source of the information, but the agency is regarded as close to Iran’s hardliners.
Iranian officials have said Jason Rezaian is facing “security” charges and that he will stand trial in the revolutionary court, which mainly hears cases involving security offences.
Rezaian, along with his wife, Yeganeh Salehi, and two photojournalists were detained on 22 July 2014 in Tehran. All were later released except Rezaian, who is a dual US-Iranian citizen. Iran does not recognise dual nationality.
The Washington Post, US officials and Rezaian’s mother have called for his release. They could not immediately be reached for comment.
The Fars report alleged Rezaian had obtained economic and industrial information from Iran and sold it to unnamed Americans. It also linked him to Omid Memarian, an Iranian opposition journalist based in the US.
“Selling Iran’s economic and industrial information at a time of sanctions is exactly like selling food to the enemy at a time of war,” Fars alleged.
Iran is under crippling sanctions over its nuclear program, which western nations suspect is aimed at developing an atomic weapons capability. Iran insists the program is for purely peaceful purposes.
Hardliners in Iran have claimed that Rezaian had access to sensitive information through contacts at the office of President Hassan Rouhani, a relative moderate.
http://i.guim.co.uk/static/w-1920/h--/q-95/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2015/4/12/1428860293597/ae44ce7a-404b-4735-99e6-c6c3ff372ebe-2060x1236.jpeg