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            Washington Post Reporter Detained in Iran Back in Court

   by Associated Press

   The detained Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian was back in a
   Teheran court on Monday for the second closed-door hearing in his
   espionage trial, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported.

   The session was expected to last until early in the afternoon in Iran,
   according to IRNA.

   Rezaian, the Post's 39-year-old Tehran bureau chief, had his first
   closed-door hearing on May 26 in a Revolutionary Court on charges
   including espionage and propaganda against the Islamic Republic. U.S.
   officials, the Post and rights groups have criticized his trial.

   Rezaian, his wife, Yeganeh Salehi, and two photojournalists were
   detained on July 22 in Tehran. All were later released except Rezaian,
   who has been held over 300 days.

   IRNA said two other people detained with Rezaian were also in court
   Monday. It did not elaborate or say who those two are, but Rezaian's
   defense lawyer, Leila Ahsan, has previously said Salehi and one of the
   two unnamed photojournalists also face trial.
   WATCH: Related video - State Department discusses Rezaian trial

   ''Closed to public
   As in the May hearing, reporters gathered in front of the courthouse
   gate did not see Rezaian, his lawyer or the other two co-defendants
   arrive for the session. In Iran, authorities usually bring those
   charged in sensitive cases into the building through another gate,
   which is closed to the public.

   Rezaian is a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen who was born and spent most of
   his life in the United States. Iran does not recognize other
   nationalities for its citizens.

   Salehi, a reporter for The National newspaper in Abu Dhabi, remains in
   Iran, barred from traveling abroad, the Post has said.

   At his first hearing, the court alleged that Rezaian had written to
   President Barack Obama and also cited a trip he made to the U.S.
   Consulate in Dubai, Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency reported.

   Martin Baron, the Post's executive editor, has disputed the nature of
   the alleged correspondence, saying that Rezaian filled out an online
   job application for the Obama administration after the 2008 election,
   though he was never hired.

   The Post has said Rezaian faces 10 to 20 years in prison if convicted.
   His brother, Ali Rezaian, earlier said that Jason had visited the
   consulate in Dubai to get a U.S. visa for his wife.

   WATCH: Related video - Jason Rezaian's brother speaks out

   ''
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/washington-post-reporter-detained-in-
   iran-back-in-court/2811769.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/washington-post-reporter-detained-in-iran-back-in-court/2811769.html