France/Iran

Iran says Reiss to go back on trial

Article published on the 2009-11-09 Latest update 2009-11-09 16:22 TU

French student Clothilde Reiss is to go back on trial in Tehran
(Photo : AFP)

French student Clothilde Reiss is to go back on trial in Iran, accused of taking part in the demonstrations which followed June’s presidential elections. The Iranian judiciary also announced that three Americans are to be charged with spying.

Reiss was originally arrested on July 1 having participated in protests after President Mahmud Ahmadinejad's re-election following a disputed vote.

Accused of "collecting information and encouraging rioters", Reiss spent six weeks in the notorious Evin jail before being released on bail. She is currently at the French Embassy in Tehran.

"Her lawyer requested a delay because of the death of a close relative and the court granted the delay," Abbas Jaffari Doulatabadi said, quoted by the state news agency Irna, without giving a date.

Last week French newspaper Le Figaro claimed that the French Ambassador had written to the Iranian foreign ministry saying that Reiss would return for trial at any time on condition that she is not given a jail sentence.

The Iranian judiciary also announced that the three Americans taken into custody near the border with Iraq on 31 July 31 are facing spying charges.

Tehran's chief prosecutor Abbas Jaffari Doulatabadi said investigations were continuing against the three hikers, Shane Bauer, 27, Sarah Shourd, 31, and Josh Fattal, 27, the official Irna news agency reported.

"The three Americans arrested near the border of Iran and Iraq are facing charges of spying and the inquiry is continuing," said Doulatabadi.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in Berlin there was "no evidence" for Iran to charge the Americans.

"We believe strongly that there is no evidence to support any charge whatsoever," Clinton told reporters during a visit to Germany for celebrations commemorating the fall of the Berlin Wall.

"And we would renew our request on the behalf of these three young people and their families that the Iranian government exercise compassion and release them so they can return home," she said.

"And we will continue to make that case through our Swiss protecting power who represents the United States in Tehran."