ID :
207769
Sun, 09/18/2011 - 07:56
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/207769
The shortlink copeid
Iran`s judiciary reportedly plans to commute sentences of 2 U.S. citizens
TEHRAN, Sept. 18 (MNA) – In a joint press conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian in Tehran,Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi replied to a question about the two U.S. citizens, who were arrested in Iran in 2009.
U.S. citizens Sarah Shourd, Shane Bauer, and Joshua Fattal were arrested by border guards on July 31, 2009 after illegally entering Iran’s territory from Iraq’s Kurdistan region. The three were charged with illegal entry and espionage.
Shourd was released from prison on bail of $500,000 on September 14, 2010 and never returned to Iran. Her case is still open.
On August 22, Bauer and Fattal were sentenced to three years in prison for illegal entry into Iran. They were also sentenced to five years in prison on charges of espionage for a U.S. intelligence agency.
Salehi said, “Making decisions about the two U.S. citizens imprisoned in Iran on charge of espionage, falls within the ambit of the Judiciary, and this branch has the final say.”
He added, “According to the reports received from the Judiciary, this branch plans to commute the sentences of these two people and is determined to handle the issue in such a way that justice would be served.”
He also said that leaders of certain regional countries have mediated in the issue, adding, “We hope the Judiciary will express its view in this regard in the near future.”
He went on to say that the executive branch is not involved in judicial issues and the consultations held between the Judiciary and the administration are merely meant to convey the news of mediation efforts that the leaders of certain regional countries have made.
U.S. citizens Sarah Shourd, Shane Bauer, and Joshua Fattal were arrested by border guards on July 31, 2009 after illegally entering Iran’s territory from Iraq’s Kurdistan region. The three were charged with illegal entry and espionage.
Shourd was released from prison on bail of $500,000 on September 14, 2010 and never returned to Iran. Her case is still open.
On August 22, Bauer and Fattal were sentenced to three years in prison for illegal entry into Iran. They were also sentenced to five years in prison on charges of espionage for a U.S. intelligence agency.
Salehi said, “Making decisions about the two U.S. citizens imprisoned in Iran on charge of espionage, falls within the ambit of the Judiciary, and this branch has the final say.”
He added, “According to the reports received from the Judiciary, this branch plans to commute the sentences of these two people and is determined to handle the issue in such a way that justice would be served.”
He also said that leaders of certain regional countries have mediated in the issue, adding, “We hope the Judiciary will express its view in this regard in the near future.”
He went on to say that the executive branch is not involved in judicial issues and the consultations held between the Judiciary and the administration are merely meant to convey the news of mediation efforts that the leaders of certain regional countries have made.
