Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Iran charges French woman, embassy workers with plot
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Search
Search:
Iran charges French woman, embassy workers with plot
Reuters - Sunday, August 9
By Parisa Hafezi and Zahra Hosseinian
ADVERTISEMENT
TEHRAN - An Iranian court on Saturday charged a French woman, two Iranians working for the British and French embassies in Tehran and dozens of others with spying and aiding a Western plot to overthrow the system of clerical rule.
The European Union, France and Britain all condemned the trial. The Swedish EU presidency said in a statement "action against one EU country, citizen or embassy staff, is considered an action against all of the EU."
"This is obviously a show trial directed against the EU," Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt told Reuters.
It was the second mass trial in a week aimed at uprooting the moderate opposition and putting an end to protests that erupted after the disputed June 12 presidential election.
At least 26 protesters have been killed and scores arrested in post-election violence. Moderates say the poll was rigged for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to win, but officials say it was the "healthiest" vote since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
The protests have exposed deep rifts within the clerical establishment in Iran, the world's fifth biggest oil producer.
French citizen Clotilde Reiss was charged with "acting against national security by taking part in unrest ... collecting news and information and sending pictures of the unrest abroad," state news agency IRNA said.
Espionage and acting against national security are punishable by death under Iran's Islamic law.
Reiss, a teaching assistant, confessed her "mistakes" and asked for clemency, IRNA said. Nazak Afshar, an Iranian working for the French embassy, was also charged with "providing information over the vote unrest to foreigners."
"We were not authorised by the embassy to go to rallies but we were told to shelter protesters if necessary," Afshar said.
The British embassy employee, Hossein Rassam, was charged with espionage and confessed to handing information about the unrest to Washington, IRNA said.
"The local staff were asked by their superiors at the British embassy to attend the riots," IRNA quoted Rassam as telling the court. Rassam was freed on $100,000 bail on July 19.
"Several British diplomats attended rallies ... The British ambassador and the charge d'affaires also went to a rally."
EU SOLIDARITY
The trial was a further sign that Iran's hardline leadership was not interested in reconciliation with the moderate opposition or repairing ties with the West, analysts said.
"This is not calculated to heal the divide," said Ali Ansari, an Iran expert at Britain's St. Andrews University.
"It's an attempt by the hardliners to impose their narrative," he said. "You can't kill that many people on the street and not try to prove that you were right."
Riot police used force to break up a protest by relatives of the accused outside the courtroom.
"Relatives of the defendants and a large group of people gathered in front of the court building on Saturday. When they chanted 'Allahu Akbar' , the riot police attacked them," the reformist Mosharekat website said.
Reiss has been held in Tehran's Evin Prison since she was arrested at a Tehran airport on July 1 as she tried to leave Iran after spending five months in the central city of Isfahan.
Reiss, wearing a black Islamic gown and a white-brown headscarf, sat in the front row in the court. It was not clear whether she had a translator when the indictment was read.
"I wrote a one-page report about the situation in Isfahan ... and handed it over to the French embassy's cultural section," IRNA quoted her as saying in court.
"France renews its demand for the immediate liberation of the young academic, since the accusations against her are baseless," France's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Britain earlier described the trial as an "outrage."
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he had received support from France and from Sweden, which holds the European Union presidency.
"We have reaffirmed our solidarity in the face of this latest Iranian provocation," he said.
At a mass trial last Saturday more than 100 reformists, including a former vice-president and several other prominent figures, were charged with offences that included acting against national security by fomenting post-election unrest.
Leading moderates, including defeated candidates Mirhossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi, have defied Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has formally endorsed Ahmadinejad.
They say the new government Ahmadinejad is to appoint will be illegitimate. Ahmadinejad has two weeks to name his cabinet.
Iran accuses the West, particularly the United States and Britain, of fomenting trouble after the election in an attempt to topple the clerical establishment. They deny the charge.
The latest indictment accused Washington and London of "providing financial help to Iran's opposition" to fuel turmoil.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Sign in to recommend this article »
0 users recommend
Related Articles: World
Peru's Fujimori to face another trial in SeptemberAFP - Saturday, August 8
Afghan mission could last 40 years: new army chiefAFP - Sunday, August 9
Angry Americans disrupt town-hall healthcare talksReuters - Saturday, August 8
AP News in Brief at 5:58 a.m. EDTAP - Saturday, August 8
Salmonella product recallsAP - Saturday, August 8
Most Popular – World
Viewed
Scientists decode HIV genome structure: study
Manson murders back in spotlight 40 years on
Taiwan's Jay Chou goes to Hollywood: report
Explosions at besieged 'terror hideout' in Indonesia
Three new bank failures bring to 72 number of collapsed US banks
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Sunday, 9 August 2009 Iraq asks Iran about 3 detained Americans
Georgia leaders to face 'retribution' for war: Medvedev
EU defends action against Intel after report leaked
Three new bank failures bring to 72 number of collapsed US banks
French woman, embassy staff confess in Iran trial
Georgia blogger blames Russia for mass cyber attack
German energy giant unveils huge cost-cutting plan
Fatah endorses Abbas as party leader
French embassy targeted in Mauritania
| International
|
One Turkish soldier killed in PKK violence
Huge crowd shows solidarity with Tel Aviv gays
| International
|
Afghan presidential contender denies Karzai deal
| International
|
Look at what Congress has done so far this year
Analysis: To-do list largely undone
Obama says `worst may be behind us' on recession
Helicopter, plane collide over Hudson, 9 likely dead
Clinton: US to work with Afghan election winner
Sotomayor becomes first Hispanic US Supreme Court justice
Afghan challenger blasts government security
Hong Kong firm to pay Australia $21m for toxic oil spill
Ga. teen accused of shooting stepsister 10 times
Sri Lanka holds postwar polls in northern towns
Go-to guy on foreclosure cleanouts sees it all
Sotomayor sworn as first Hispanic on U.S. Supreme Court
Exiled Uighur activist say she is 'woman of peace'
Bomb outside NW Pakistan school wounds 6
Militants say Pakistan's Mehsud alive, deny report
Myanmar marks 21 years since student uprising
Taiwan's Jay Chou goes to Hollywood: report
Grammer says heart attack gave him chance to re-tool
| Entertainment
|
Mad Men still spellbinding in Season 3
| Entertainment
|
Techno music fans turn out for Zurich rave party
Venice Film Fest introduces 3D film award
Report: Missing Japanese actress turns herself in
Jackson show insurance excluded 'illicit' drug use
Huge crowd shows solidarity with Tel Aviv gays
Taliban leader's death disputed, shootout claimed
ETA claims Spanish police deaths: statement
French lecturer and embassy staffers go on trial in Iran
Climate change to challenge US military: report
Iran charges French woman, embassy workers with plot
| International
|
British actor claims he fathered Jackson's daughter
Fighting erupts between Taliban rivals and Pakistan government
| International
|
Iran charges French woman, embassy workers with plot
Jonas Brothers Team Up With Verizon And LG Mobile Phones To Give Fans A Chance To Win A Kickball Game With The Band
Crown Prince Willem-Alexander And Princess Maxim Of The Netherlands To Sue Over Photos
Sri Lanka's first post-war polls show mixed results
| International
|
Director John Huges Dead At 59
Late Actor Heath Ledger's Anti-Whaling Modest Mouse Music Video Finally Released
Disney To Premiere Environmental Charity Single Featuring Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus
Former Intern Recounts Alleged Sexual Abuse By Dr. Phil
Hollywood Production Manager Ted Swanson Dies At 72
Bushfire Survivor Sam The Koala Dies
Clinton seeks better ties with oil giant Angola
| International
|
Aerosmith's Steven Tyler Falls From Stage During Show
Chavez asks Colombia's Uribe to explain base plan
| International
|
Miley Cyrus' Stalker Busted Again
Springbok skipper Smit commends battling Wallabies
Feared toll from Tongan ferry tragedy rises to 95
93 people missing in Tongan ferry disaster
Plane, copter collide over Hudson; 9 believed dead
Charges unlikely for husband in NY wrong-way crash
Government and pro-rebel party win local elections
One dead, eight missing as Typhoon Morakot hits Taiwan
Collision turns attention to for-hire flights
Sotomayor, veteran judge, is rookie on high court
Flood overwhelms Philippines rescuers, death toll at 20
Nine feared dead after New York mid-air collision
Fighting erupts between Taliban rivals-Pakistan government
North century piles on agony for England at Ashes
AP NewsAlert
Safety of Russian planes in Afghan war questioned
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,331
World pins recovery hopes on rising house prices
Hollywood abuzz at South African sci-fi film
SKorean steelmaker opens Mexico plant
Grammer says heart attack gave him chance to "re-tool"
Stock exchanges hit highest levels this year
Investors crave stability as Shanghai stocks rocket
ABC wants Paula Abdul to dance on over post-'Idol'
Hollywood abuzz at South African sci-fi film
Snowin' in the Wind? Dylan Christmas album due
| Entertainment
|
Dancing with Stars role for Paula Abdul?
| Entertainment
|
Beatles fans swarm Abbey Road on album anniversary
"Dancing with Stars" role for Paula Abdul?
ABC puts faith in ambitious programming
| Entertainment
|
Celebrities, recession fuel interest in etiquette
Police: Suspect planned attack on Indonesia leader
ABC puts faith in ambitious programming
Snowin' in the Wind? Dylan Christmas album due
Dance queen Lady GaGa fashions booming career
| Entertainment
|
Gary Sinise headlines free concert in Denver park
Report: Jackson kids' godfather claims paternity
Celebrities, recession fuel interest in etiquette
| Entertainment
|
Tel Aviv gay solidarity event draws 70,000: organisers
Palestinian Fatah seeks renewal, rejuvenation
U.S. says evidence Taliban chief dead pretty conclusive
| International
|
Saudi closes broadcaster after sex confession
China's east coast battered by typhoon
| International
|
Indonesia awaits DNA proof of suspect militant's ID
| International
|
Pakistani Taliban appears in turmoil after shootout
North Korea wants better ties with U.S. : security adviser
| International
|
Israel warns Hezbollah over assassination report
| International
|
France condemns Mauritania suicide attack
| International
|
Palestinian Fatah seeks renewal, rejuvenation
| International
|
Ship with Russian crew disappears: report
| International
|
Madagascar rivals agree power-sharing deal
| International
|
Clinton in Angola to sweeten trade ties
Kepler Telescope Finds Distant Planet During Test Run
Kansas man wins big in lottery for 2nd time in '09
Israel recalls diplomat who warned about US ties
Violent Riots Break Out At California Prison
Obama Travels To Mexico To Discuss Energy, Climate Change And Drug Wars
Consumer protections lost in health care debate
Clinton on oil mission to Angola
7 People, Including 4 Children Killed In California Car Crash
Two Top Pakistani Taliban Leaders Reportedly Killed
Three Bodies Found In Midair Crash Over The Hudson
Obama in first summit with Mexico, Canada leaders
BREAKING NEWS: Small Plane And Tourist Helicopter Collide Over Hudson River In Manhattan
Holder to name prosecutor to probe CIA abuses: report
Aerospace Company Alliant Techsystems Reports Quarterly Profit Surge
Eunice Kennedy Shriver, 88, In Critical Condition
Chinese secrets agency says Rio spied for 6 years
China searches for high-tech leap forward
Japanese actress arrested in Tokyo
Experts gather in Bali to discuss AIDS fight
Indonesia awaits DNA test to confirm terror leader's death
Doubts raised that dead terrorist was top leader
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights