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After spending 447 days in an Iranian prison, Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post's bureau chief in Tehran, has been convicted of something — but the Iranian government has not been clear about the details of his trial, which ended two months ago, or about the judgment against him.
Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi, a spokesperson for the Iranian judiciary, appeared on state TV Sunday night to confirm that Rezaian had indeed been convicted, but said, "I don't have the verdict's details." He indicated that Rezaian would have the opportunity to appeal.
Rezaian had been charged with four separate counts — including espionage, "collaborating with hostile governments," and "propaganda against the establishment"— and tried before the secretive Revolutionary Court, where only his lawyer and the prosecutors were privy to the particulars of the case. Rezaian has been held in Iran's notorious Evin prison, which is famous for housing political prisoners. The charges against him could have brought a maximum sentence of 10 to 20 years, but it remains unclear precisely what charges he was convicted of.
Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi, a spokesperson for the Iranian judiciary, appeared on state TV Sunday night to confirm that Rezaian had indeed been convicted, but said, "I don't have the verdict's details." He indicated that Rezaian would have the opportunity to appeal.
Rezaian had been charged with four separate counts — including espionage, "collaborating with hostile governments," and "propaganda against the establishment"— and tried before the secretive Revolutionary Court, where only his lawyer and the prosecutors were privy to the particulars of the case. Rezaian has been held in Iran's notorious Evin prison, which is famous for housing political prisoners. The charges against him could have brought a maximum sentence of 10 to 20 years, but it remains unclear precisely what charges he was convicted of.
The last time Americans were held for a long time by Iran there was much said about it. Now... not so much.
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