TEHRAN — A verdict has been issued in the trial in Iran of Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, the country’s judiciary spokesman said Sunday, but without giving any details of the judgment.
Rezaian, the US newspaper’s Tehran bureau chief since 2012, was arrested in July 2014, accused of spying and tried in four hearings behind closed doors, the last of which was in August. He has dual Iranian-American nationality, something which Iran does not recognize. The Post, US officials and Rezaian’s family have all called for his release.
“The verdict for this case has been issued,” Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejeie, who as well as being the judiciary’s spokesman is its deputy chief, was quoted as saying on its official website.
“This verdict can be appealed. The time for an appeal is not yet over. So the court waits and if it doesn’t receive an appeal… the verdict becomes final.”
Rezaian’s lawyer could not immediately be reached for comment. Rezaian reportedly faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
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The treatment and trial of the journalist has drawn condemnation from his family, employer and press freedom groups. The Post has called the trial a “sick brew of farce and tragedy” and said it “has been anything but transparent and just.”
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