Washington Post reporter charged by Tehran court
Source: Washington Post
Jason Rezaian, a Washington Post reporter detained in Iran for more than four months, was officially charged Saturday in a day-long proceeding in a Tehran courtroom, according to a source familiar with the case.
The nature of the charges was not immediately clear, at least to those not present in the courtroom. The court appearance came two days after word arrived in the West that Rezaian’s detention has been extended until mid-January because the investigation against him is continuing.
The charges were the first lodged since Rezaian, an Iranian American who holds dual citizenship, was arrested July 22. His family has hired an attorney for him, but the lawyer has not been permitted to visit him. The State Department has repeatedly raised the case of Rezaian, and other Americans jailed in Iran, during lengthy talks with the government about a deal to curb Iran’s nuclear capacity and ease international sanctions.
The source said that Rezaian spent about 10 hours in court Saturday while his case was reviewed by a judge. A translator accompanied Rezaian, who does not read Farsi, said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case. Rezaian signed a document saying he understood that he was being charged, the source said.
Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/washington-post-reporter-charged-by-tehran-court/2014/12/06/11885813-eeb8-4b7d-8d8b-34066f085c1e_story.html
Charging someone, but without saying what the charges are, is a sign of a failed state, IMO.
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