Free Jason Rezaian

[Sally]

What can you expect when you have a bunch of religious crazies running the country?

Free Jason Rezaian
Iran demonstrates contempt for decency with its hostage game


FILE - In this photo April 11, 2013 file photo, Jason Rezaian, an Iranian-American correspondent for the Washington Post, smiles as he attends a presidential campaign of President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran, Iran. Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported that ... more >

By THE WASHINGTON TIMES - - Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Justice in Iran is a contact sport. The regime’s Revolutionary Court in Tehran has convicted Jason Rezaian, a correspondent for The Washington Post, of espionage. The Islamic republic long ago abandoned any pretense of judicial or diplomatic norms, and is keeping an innocent newspaperman behind bars as a bargaining chip in its shady power game with the West.

Mr. Rezaian’s conviction for “spying” onIran’s nuclear program was announced Monday after he had spent 14 months in prison. His punishment, which was not revealed, could be 10 years in prison, it could be 20 years, or it could be something in between. The suspense adds to the pain of punishment, which is the point of delay.

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EDITORIAL: Free Jason Rezaian?

 

[tyroneweaver]

obama will get right on it.

 

[waltky]

Dey talkin' like dey gonna let him go...

Iran FM wants 'humanitarian' solution for US reporter
Oct 17,`15 -- Iran's foreign minister said Saturday there are serious charges against jailed Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian but that he is seeking to resolve the case from a "humanitarian perspective."

Mohammad Javad Zarif provided no further details during a security conference Saturday to discuss Syria as well as Iran's future role in the region following a landmark nuclear agreement reached with world powers in July. Rezaian, who has been jailed for over a year on charges of espionage, was recently convicted by a Revolutionary Court. Iranian officials have not provided details on the verdict or sentence. "The issue over this defendant is a judicial process but we are making efforts to resolve it from a humanitarian perspective," Zarif said. 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, grew up in Marin County, California, spent most of his life in the United States, and holds both American and Iranian citizenship. Iran does not recognize dual nationality for its citizens.

Iran's state media, citing the indictment, have said Rezaian collected information on Iranian and foreign individuals and companies circumventing sanctions and passed them on to the U.S. government. Iranian state TV has repeatedly called Rezaian an "American spy." Earlier this month, the intelligence department of the powerful elite Revolutionary Guard claimed in a report to parliament that Rezaian is an agent seeking to "overthrow" Iran's Islamic ruling system. Rezaian's lawyer, Leila Ahsan, told The Associated Press on Saturday that political issues are complicating the legal case. "It's not a normal case," she said. "Under the law, the verdict should have been issued one week after the end of the trial. It didn't happen." Ahsan said she is yet to receive the verdict. "I will definitely appeal if the verdict has found my client guilty," she said. "Rezaian is innocent and must be freed."

Rezaian last appeared in court on Aug. 10, after the conclusion of the nuclear deal. He faced multiple charges including espionage in a closed-door trial that has been widely criticized by the U.S. government and press freedom organizations. About two weeks later, a senior Iranian diplomat alluded to the possibility of swapping Rezaian for Iranian prisoners held in the U.S. The official, Hassan Qashqavi, Iran's deputy foreign minister in charge of legal and consular affairs, was quoted by state-linked media as saying the U.S. holds 19 Iranians on "sanctions-related charges" and another 60 for "ordinary crimes." President Hassan Rouhani also raised that possibility last month but Iran's judiciary rejected the idea.

News from The Associated Press

 

[Sally]

Dey talkin' like dey gonna let him go...

Iran FM wants 'humanitarian' solution for US reporter
Oct 17,`15 -- Iran's foreign minister said Saturday there are serious charges against jailed Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian but that he is seeking to resolve the case from a "humanitarian perspective."

Mohammad Javad Zarif provided no further details during a security conference Saturday to discuss Syria as well as Iran's future role in the region following a landmark nuclear agreement reached with world powers in July. Rezaian, who has been jailed for over a year on charges of espionage, was recently convicted by a Revolutionary Court. Iranian officials have not provided details on the verdict or sentence. "The issue over this defendant is a judicial process but we are making efforts to resolve it from a humanitarian perspective," Zarif said. 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, grew up in Marin County, California, spent most of his life in the United States, and holds both American and Iranian citizenship. Iran does not recognize dual nationality for its citizens.

Iran's state media, citing the indictment, have said Rezaian collected information on Iranian and foreign individuals and companies circumventing sanctions and passed them on to the U.S. government. Iranian state TV has repeatedly called Rezaian an "American spy." Earlier this month, the intelligence department of the powerful elite Revolutionary Guard claimed in a report to parliament that Rezaian is an agent seeking to "overthrow" Iran's Islamic ruling system. Rezaian's lawyer, Leila Ahsan, told The Associated Press on Saturday that political issues are complicating the legal case. "It's not a normal case," she said. "Under the law, the verdict should have been issued one week after the end of the trial. It didn't happen." Ahsan said she is yet to receive the verdict. "I will definitely appeal if the verdict has found my client guilty," she said. "Rezaian is innocent and must be freed."

Rezaian last appeared in court on Aug. 10, after the conclusion of the nuclear deal. He faced multiple charges including espionage in a closed-door trial that has been widely criticized by the U.S. government and press freedom organizations. About two weeks later, a senior Iranian diplomat alluded to the possibility of swapping Rezaian for Iranian prisoners held in the U.S. The official, Hassan Qashqavi, Iran's deputy foreign minister in charge of legal and consular affairs, was quoted by state-linked media as saying the U.S. holds 19 Iranians on "sanctions-related charges" and another 60 for "ordinary crimes." President Hassan Rouhani also raised that possibility last month but Iran's judiciary rejected the idea.

News from The Associated Press

Do you think they will let that American pastor go? For the life of me, I can' imagine why they didn't just deport him instead of throwing him into prison.

 

[waltky]

Not likely in view of the current Iran/Saudi Arabia crisis but hope I'm wrong...

Americans seeking swap in US reporter case, says Iranian official
Monday 4th January, 2016 - The United States may be seeking a swap deal with Iranians to free Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, who has been convicted and jailed on espionage charges, according to a media report citing a judiciary spokesman of the Islamic republic.

The spokesman, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, was quoted by Iran's Fars news agency on Sunday as stating that authorities have been contacted by Americans for a deal to swap Rezaian for other unspecified detainees. "Some Americans contact us sometimes, asking us to exchange him with other detainees, but the sentence has not been announced yet," said Ejei, declining to identify the Americans who have proposed the deal. Ejei did not specify which detainees were proposed to be swapped. He also didn't give more details of the swap deal.

However Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani had in September last year hinted at a possibility of freeing Rezaian and other American prisoners in Iran in exchange for Iranian prisoners in the US. "That's one way," Larijani said in an interview in New York, where he had gone to attend a global conference of parliamentary speakers last year. Although he does not have direct authority over Rezaian, but Larijani's brother is the head of Iran's judiciary. "There are practical ways of course. For example, there is a number of Iranians in prison (in the US). Definitely for matters of this sort, one can come up with solutions. There are other ways that the judiciary systems of the two countries can come up with. It is the judiciary that has to decide about it."

Reuters quoted an unnamed 'senior White House official' as saying: "We're not going to comment on every public remark by Iranian officials concerning our detained and missing citizens. We continue to make all efforts to bring our citizens home." Rezaian, a 39-year-old Iranian-American, is held by Tehran for espionage charges. He has been accused of being the in charge of the US intelligence gathering in Iran. Rezaian has been convicted but Iran has declined to announce the sentence. The journalist was arrested in July 2014.

Rezaian is alleged to have collected confidential information and given it to hostile governments, writing a letter to US President Barack Obama and acting against national security in Iran. The Washington Post has dismissed the charges as absurd. Washington Post foreign editor Douglas Jehl has said the vague nature of an earlier announcement by Iran showed that Rezaian's case was not just about espionage but that the reporter was a bargaining chip in a "larger game". Four other US citizens - Christian pastor Saeed Abedini, Amir Hekmati, a former US Marine Corps sergeant, American-Lebanese IT expert Nizar Zakka and U.S.-Iranian businessman Siamak Namazi - are also believed to be held in Iran. Robert Levinson, a private investigator, disappeared there in 2007.

Americans seeking swap in US reporter case says Iranian official

 

[Roudy]

The Islamist animals in Iran don't know what the word decency even means.

You can ask the families of the hundreds of thousands of Iranians they've killed or tortured.

 

[Indeependent]

Don't preach Christianity in a Muslim country...
Problem solved.

 

[Sally]

Don't preach Christianity in a Muslim country...
Problem solved.

This Iranian-American pastor was in Iran to visit his parents. I think the problem was that he originally was Muslim and converted to Christianity which is a big no no in Islam. They were ready to pounce on him. Lately there have been stories about how so many people are now going to visit Iran as tourists. I wonder if Jews who were born in Iran will chance going too. I know someone who would love to visit his father's grave. The Muslims living outside Iran go all the time to visit relatives, and nothing seems to happen to them.

 

[Roudy]

Don't preach Christianity in a Muslim country...
Problem solved.

Like Sunni says often, "Their country their laws", eh?

 

[dani67]

how you sure that he isnt spy?

 

[dani67]

Don't preach Christianity in a Muslim country...
Problem solved.

f..... your jewish propganda


christian tourist in iran

christian and chrismas in iran

 

[Indeependent]

Don't preach Christianity in a Muslim country...
Problem solved.

f..... your jewish propganda


christian tourist in iran

christian and chrismas in iran

Christians are advised not to proselytize in Muslim countries. When they do and are arrested they put on a show of innocent surprise.

 

[dani67]

Don't preach Christianity in a Muslim country...
Problem solved.

f..... your jewish propganda


christian tourist in iran

christian and chrismas in iran

Christians are advised not to proselytize in Muslim countries. When they do and are arrested they put on a show of innocent surprise.

another jewish propganda

 

[Indeependent]

Don't preach Christianity in a Muslim country...
Problem solved.

f..... your jewish propganda


christian tourist in iran

christian and chrismas in iran

Christians are advised not to proselytize in Muslim countries. When they do and are arrested they put on a show of innocent surprise.

another jewish propganda

Propaganda.

 

[dani67]

Don't preach Christianity in a Muslim country...
Problem solved.

f..... your jewish propganda


christian tourist in iran

christian and chrismas in iran

Christians are advised not to proselytize in Muslim countries. When they do and are arrested they put on a show of innocent surprise.

another jewish propganda

Propaganda.

i dont care

 

[Indeependent]

Don't preach Christianity in a Muslim country...
Problem solved.

f..... your jewish propganda


christian tourist in iran

christian and chrismas in iran

Christians are advised not to proselytize in Muslim countries. When they do and are arrested they put on a show of innocent surprise.

another jewish propganda

Propaganda.

i dont care

Neither do I.

 

[Sally]

how you sure that he isnt spy?

Evidently you are not American, judging from your use of English. I think Americans would realize that he was just a reporter doing his job. There are probably reporters from Iran working in the U.S. Should we accuse them of being spies and throw them in jail?

Reporters have had a bad time these days in the Middle East. Not only have reporters been jailed, but so many have been killed in this conflict. Reporting over there is a dangerous job, and we have to give all reporters of whatever nationality credit for taking on this job so that they can spread the news to their readers.

 

[Sally]

how you sure that he isnt spy?

Evidently you are not American, judging from your use of English. I think Americans would realize that he was just a reporter doing his job. There are probably reporters from Iran working in the U.S. Should we accuse them of being spies and throw them in jail?

Reporters have had a bad time these days in the Middle East. Not only have reporters been jailed, but so many have been killed in this conflict. Reporting over there is a dangerous job, and we have to give all reporters of whatever nationality credit for taking on this job so that they can spread the news to their readers.

f..... your jewish propganda


christian tourist in iran

christian and chrismas in iran

Christians are advised not to proselytize in Muslim countries. When they do and are arrested they put on a show of innocent surprise.

another jewish propganda

Propaganda.

i dont care

Neither do I.

Maybe that anti-Semitic foreigner thinks everything is Jewish propaganda, but she would be better off taking another ESL class. Meanwhile, regardless if Iran puts on a show for Christmas, 9 Christians were arrested having services at a home church on Christmas Day..

Iran: Nine Christians arrested in church on Christmas Day | Christian News on Christian Today

Things are not so honky dory in Iran when it comes to other religions. The Bahai's aren't treated so fondly. It is really just a show when it comes to the Jews. In Los Angeles, there is a Jewish Iranian-American, Frank Nikbakht, who is in contact with the community of Jews in Iran so he knows just what is going in. It is so wonderful in Iran that even the Muslims are still fleeing.

 

[dani67]

how you sure that he isnt spy?

Evidently you are not American, judging from your use of English. I think Americans would realize that he was just a reporter doing his job. There are probably reporters from Iran working in the U.S. Should we accuse them of being spies and throw them in jail?

Reporters have had a bad time these days in the Middle East. Not only have reporters been jailed, but so many have been killed in this conflict. Reporting over there is a dangerous job, and we have to give all reporters of whatever nationality credit for taking on this job so that they can spread the news to their readers.

Christians are advised not to proselytize in Muslim countries. When they do and are arrested they put on a show of innocent surprise.

another jewish propganda

Propaganda.

i dont care

Neither do I.

Maybe that anti-Semitic foreigner thinks everything is Jewish propaganda, but she would be better off taking another ESL class. Meanwhile, regardless if Iran puts on a show for Christmas, 9 Christians were arrested having services at a home church on Christmas Day..

Iran: Nine Christians arrested in church on Christmas Day | Christian News on Christian Today

Things are not so honky dory in Iran when it comes to other religions. The Bahai's aren't treated so fondly. It is really just a show when it comes to the Jews. In Los Angeles, there is a Jewish Iranian-American, Frank Nikbakht, who is in contact with the community of Jews in Iran so he knows just what is going in. It is so wonderful in Iran that even the Muslims are still fleeing.

they are new christian.they were moslem and converted to christianity and they adversiting christianity in iran and its forbidden in iran law.but i dont defend this law.but suidi arabia killing this people .no just arrest them for few days

 

[waltky]

Free at last, free at last - thank God Almighty he's free at last!...

U.S. journalist Jason Rezaian, three others released in Iran-U.S. prisoner swap
Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016 - Iran freed four Americans including a Washington Post reporter on Saturday in a prisoner swap, as diplomats gathered to announce the lifting of international sanctions and bring the country of 80 million people back to the global economic stage.

The International Atomic Energy Agency was expected to announce in Vienna that Tehran had complied with the requirements of a deal reached last year, under which it was to curb its nuclear program in return for the lifting of sanctions imposed by the United States, United Nations and European Union. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who developed a strong rapport while hammering out last year’s deal, met in a Vienna hotel before the announcement. “Implementation day” of the nuclear deal marks the biggest re-entry of a former pariah state into world commerce since the end of the Cold War.

It is also a turning point in the hostility between Iran and the United States that has shaped the Middle East since Iran’s Islamic Revolution of 1979, and a defining initiative for both U.S. President Barack Obama and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Both leaders have faced strong opposition from hardliners at home in countries that have called each other “Great Satan” and part of the “axis of evil.” “Today, with the release of the IAEA chief’s report, the nuclear deal will be implemented, after which a joint statement will be made to announce the beginning of the deal,” Zarif was quoted as saying in Vienna by state news agency IRNA. “Today is a good day for the Iranian people as sanctions will be lifted today,” the ISNA agency quoted him as saying.

Jason Rezaian, an Iranian-American correspondent for the Washington Post, smiles as he attends a presidential campaign of President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran, Iran. Iran's official IRNA news agency reported that the verdict against Rezaian has been issued. Rezaian, the Post's Tehran bureau chief, is accused of charges including espionage in a closed-door trial that has been widely criticized by the U.S. government and press freedom organizations.​

The sanctions have cut Iran off from the global financial system, drastically reduced the exports of a major oil producer and imposed severe economic hardship on ordinary Iranians. Most will be lifted immediately. Iranian media reported that four Iranian-Americans held in Iran had been released and seven Iranian-Americans held in the United States would also be freed under the prisoner swap. U.S. State Department officials declined immediate comment. The four held in Iran include Washington Post bureau chief Jason Rezaian, held since 2014 and convicted in Iran of espionage. His case in particular has been a notable obstacle to a thaw in Iranian-U.S. relations. Even before the expected announcement that sanctions would be lifted, Iran’s Mehr news agency reported on Saturday that executives from two of the world’s largest oil companies, Shell and Total, had arrived in Tehran for talks with state firms.

Under the deal, Iran has agreed to forego enrichment of uranium, which world powers feared could be used to make a nuclear weapon. Once sanctions are lifted, Iran plans to swiftly ramp up its exports of oil. Global companies that have been barred from doing business there will be able to exploit a market hungry for everything from automobiles to airplane parts. Iran’s expected return to an already glutted market is one of the main factors contributing to a global rout in oil prices, which fell below $30 a barrel this week for the first time in 12 years. Tehran says it could boost exports by 500,000 barrels per day within weeks and 500,000 more within a year, in a world already producing 1.5 million barrels a day more than it consumes and running out of storage space to hold it.

Republicans, Israelis and Saudis suspicious