Jason Rezaian, the Iranian-American reporter for the Washington Post who is being tried in Iran, should receive the court’s verdict within a week, Rezaian’s lawyer said as his trial wrapped up today.
Leila Ahsan, Rezaian’s lawyer, told reporters that the trial is now over and the court decision should be issued within a week.
Rezaian’s fourth session in court came to an end at noon on Monday August 10 behind closed doors. Ahsan reported that this was the final session and that she had submitted a 20-page defence brief and an oral defence during the hearing, details of which could not be revealed to the media due to confidentiality rules.
Rezaian was arrested in July of 2014 along with his wife, Yeganeh Salehi, and two other friends. All except Rezaian were gradually released.
The reporter’s mother, Mary Rezaian, and wife, Yeganeh Salehi, were not present in court but were waiting outside the doors and spoke to reporters after the session.
Mary Rezaian expressed hope that with the new developments, her son would be exonerated and released. “He is paying the price of the suspicion, the animosity and the paranoia between the two countries,” she said.
Jason Rezaian is accused of spying, charges that have been denied by him, his family and the Washington Post.
