TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, who has been detained for more than a year on charges including espionage, has been convicted, a spokesman for the Iranian judiciary said.
Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi told state TV Sunday night, “He has been convicted, but I don’t have the verdict’s details.”
Ejehi said Rezaian and his lawyer are eligible to appeal the conviction within 20 days.
Leila Ahsan, Rezaian’s lawyer told The Associated Press Sunday “there are no new developments” and said she has not yet received the verdict. Ahsan was not reachable for comment on Monday.
Rezaian was detained with his wife, who is a journalist for The National newspaper in the United Arab Emirates, and two photojournalists on July 22, 2014. All were later released except Rezaian.
Rezaian, the Post’s Tehran bureau chief since 2012, has dual Iranian-American nationality. Iran does not recognize dual nationality for its citizens.
Rezaian faced multiple charges including espionage in a closed-door trial that has been widely criticized by the U.S. government and press freedom organizations. He reportedly faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
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