After ‘Ares Amiri’ Ruling; Islamic Republic Sentenced Two Others to 12 Years in Prison on Espionage Charges

While judicial authorities have confirmed the final verdict of 10 years imprisonment for ‘Ares Amiri,’ this time two other individuals named ‘Ali Johari’ and ‘Anushe Ashouri’ have each been sentenced to 12 years in prison on charges of espionage.

Gholamhossein Esmaili, on Tuesday, the fifth of Shahrivar, while confirming the final verdict of 10 years imprisonment for Ares Amiri, a student and former employee of the British Council who has been accused of espionage, announced the conviction of two other individuals named ‘Ali Johari’ and ‘Anushe Ashouri’ on charges of ‘espionage.’

Regarding ‘Ali Johari,’ he claimed that this individual was in contact with Israel and had ‘travels’ to that country and was tasked with providing ‘information’ regarding ‘activities of the Quds Force’ to Israel.

According to Esmaili, this individual has been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment and the return of ‘salary received’ from Israel.

The judiciary spokesperson also introduced ‘Anushe Ashouri’ as a dual Iranian-British citizen and claimed that this individual was linked to ‘Mossad’ and ‘transferred considerable amounts of information’ to this service.

Anushe Ashouri’s verdict has also been announced as 12 years imprisonment and the return of 330,000 euros.

Previously, no news had been published about the arrest of these individuals and their trial proceedings.

The arrest and court proceedings of these defendants have been carried out in an unprecedented silence. Ares Amiri, a student and former employee of the British Council, who faces similar charges, was arrested in Shahrivar of 1397 (2018), but no information about him was released until Ordibehesht of this year.

In recent years, several Iranians residing in Britain have been arrested upon returning to Iran. Including Nazanin Zaghari, who was arrested about three years ago upon her return to London by Revolutionary Guards along with her young daughter at Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran and was sentenced by the court to 5 years imprisonment.

Western analysts say the Islamic Republic uses dual nationals as hostages to extract money and concessions from Western governments.

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, in his latest report released about 9 months ago, expressed concern about the detention of dual nationals in Iran and said that these arrests are a source of deep concern and a clear example of failure to follow legal procedures in Iran.

Source: Voice of America