Iran begins trial of US journalist held for ten months
- 9 years ago
The trial of Jason Rezaian has begun — the Washington Post correspondent who has been detained in Iran for almost 10 months. The accusation against Rezaian, in Tehran’s words, is of “espionage for the hostile government of the United States of America and propaganda activities against the system”.
The Washington Post described Rezaian’s prosecution to euronews as “contemptible”.
Douglas Jehl, the newspaper’s Foreign Policy Editor, said: “Our focus really has been relentless throughout, on trying to win Jason’s freedom. We have worked with just about everyone who could possibly help us: governments, private emissaries and others, in hopes that the word could get to Iran that it was ludicrous that they be holding a journalist in the way that they have been holding Jason now for 300 days.”
Iran experts in Washington see the case as a sign of a power struggle between rival factions in Tehran.
Reza Marashi, with the National Iranian American Council, and a close friend of Rezaian,
The Washington Post described Rezaian’s prosecution to euronews as “contemptible”.
Douglas Jehl, the newspaper’s Foreign Policy Editor, said: “Our focus really has been relentless throughout, on trying to win Jason’s freedom. We have worked with just about everyone who could possibly help us: governments, private emissaries and others, in hopes that the word could get to Iran that it was ludicrous that they be holding a journalist in the way that they have been holding Jason now for 300 days.”
Iran experts in Washington see the case as a sign of a power struggle between rival factions in Tehran.
Reza Marashi, with the National Iranian American Council, and a close friend of Rezaian,