Iranian Jew 'has confessed to spying'
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
Court Officials claimed yesterday that one of the main defendants in the trial of 13 Iranian Jews accused of spying for Israel had confessed.
Hossein Ali Amiri, the head of the judiciary in Shiraz, southern Iran, where the trial is being held behind closed doors, said Hamid "Danny" Teflin confessed to spying for Israel in court and that his case was "finished".
Earlier, in the first foreign contact with the case, which is being closely watched by Western governments, a representative of the New York-based organisation, Human Rights Watch, was admitted to the court to speak to the judge and see one of the defendants. Prosecutors were laying out in detail the state's case against the Jewish defendants for the first time yesterday. The evidence is believed to rest mainly on confessions.
Charges were to be read out against three others: Shahrokh Paknahad, who taught Hebrew and religious lessons; Faramarz Kashi, a fellow teacher; and Ramin Nematizadeh, a merchant.
Esmail Nasseri, the lawyer for the defence, said the confessions were "irrelevant" and that the acts committed by his clients failed to meet the legal definition of spying under Iranian law, because the information they gathered was not classified. The trial continues.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments