As Washington Post reporter goes on trial, anger at 'Kafkaesque restrictions'
Reporter Jason Rezaian got his first day in court Tuesday after spending more than 10 months in Iranian jail on charges of espionage.
But dubious 鈥溾�� 鈥� a term previously used by Mr. Rezainan鈥檚 employer, The Washington Post, to describe Tehran鈥檚 handling of the case 鈥� have remained in place. The聽 judge presiding over the trial has barred journalists and family members from attending the trial.
鈥淚f Iran had a case against Jason Rezaian, it would try him in public,鈥� tweeted Kenneth Roth, the executive director of Human Rights Watch. 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 and won鈥檛.鈥�
Rezaian, who holds both American and Iranian citizenship, is being tried in a Revolutionary Court on allegations of "espionage for the hostile government of the United States" and propaganda against the Islamic Republic, according to IRNA, Iran鈥檚 official news agency. The Associated Press noted that while IRNA didn鈥檛 provide further details, prosecutors in Iran usually name their charges in initial hearings.
Rezaian鈥檚 brother, Ali Rezaian, told The New York Times that the Iranian government is of evidence of espionage:
An American visa application for Yeganeh Salehi, Jason Rezaian鈥檚 wife, an Iranian citizen and a journalist, and a form letter sent by Mr. Rezaian to Barack Obama鈥檚 2008 White House transition team offering help to improve relations between Iran and the United States. It is unclear why the Iranian authorities believe those documents to be incriminating.
The Washington Post's executive editor, Martin Baron, harshly criticized Tehran for its 鈥溾�� against Rezaian in a statement published on the paper's website. He said the decision to have a closed trial means it 鈥渨ill be closed to the scrutiny it fully deserves.鈥�
鈥淭here is no justice in this system, not an ounce of it, and yet the fate of a good, innocent man hangs in the balance,鈥� Mr. Baron said. 鈥淚ran is making a statement about its values in its disgraceful treatment of our colleague, and it can only horrify the world community.鈥�
Rezaian鈥檚 case has also drawn scorn from a wide range of journalists and press freedom advocates. The has called on Iran to ensure a fair and transparent trial and to allow Rezaian鈥檚 defense team and the Post access to court proceedings. A senior editor of The Washington Post applied for a visa to attend the trial but was unsuccessful.
"Iran must end this travesty of justice immediately," said Sherif Mansour, the CPJ鈥檚 Middle East and North Africa program coordinator. "After more than 300 days of unwarranted detention, the least Iran could do is to release Rezaian on bail and grant his employer entry to the country and access to the legal proceedings."
US officials repeatedly have pressed Iran to release聽Rezaian, including during talks on the sidelines of negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program. But in April, 海角大神 reported that聽that Rezaian might not be released 鈥� regardless of the legal timeline 鈥� ahead of a June 30 deadline for a comprehensive agreement.
The Post has said Rezaian faces up to 10 to 20 years in prison. The Associated Press reported that his wife is a target as well:
Last week, Rezaian's lawyer said Salehi, who is a reporter for The National newspaper in Abu Dhabi, and a freelance photographer who worked for foreign media, will also stand trial.
