EU slams Iran over trial of embassy staff

          
          EU slams fran over trial of embassy staff littp://www.presstv.lr/detailaspx?id—102951
          French Embassy worker Nazak Afshar released from Tehran prison.
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          EU slams Iran over trial of embassy staff
          Sun, 09 Aug 2009 09:13:38 CMI
          The EU has lashed out at Tehran, over the trial of the
          British and French embassy staff, who were arrested in
          connection with Iran's post-election riots.
          “The presidency expresses its concern over the ongoing
          trial in Tehran in the aftermath of the election, including
          against two EU member states' embassy employees
          and one EU citizen,” the statement by the EU's Swedish
          presidency said in a Saturday statement.
          “The presidency reiterates that action against one EU
          country, ciflzen or embassy staff, is considered an
          action against all of the EU,” it added.
          The EU warning came after a Saturday morning hearing
          at Tehran's Revolution Court, where British and French
          embassy staff were among the suspects facing trial.
          Hossein Rassam, Who worked as a senior political analyst for the British Embassy in Tehran and is now facing
          “spying” charges, told the court that he had been gathering information on post-election unrest for the British
          government at the request of his superiors.
          “Based on the order of British embassy, the local staff were asked to be present in the riots along with [ Second
          Secretary of British Embassy] Tom Bu n and Paul Blemey,” Rassam said referring to two British diplomats
          expelled by Iran in June.
          His appearance in court has angered the UK government, which has responded by calling the trial an
          “unacceptable” “outrage” and the confessions unreliable.
          “This... contradicts assurances we had been given repeatedly by senior Iranian officials... We deplore these
          trials and the so-called confessions of prisoners who have been denied their basic human rights,” a Foreign
          Office spokeswoman told reporters.
          Nazak Afshar, the French Embassy worker on trial, also addressed the court, admitting that she had taken part
          in post-election demonstrations, sent emails containing information on the riots, and let rioters into the embassy
          based on orders given by her employers.
          She also commented on how she had been treated after her arrest, pointing out that “the brothers at the
          intelligence ministry”, who were “very kind” to her had made her realize her mistakes.
          Other than the two embassy workers, who are Iranian nationals, a detained French lecturer, also faced trial on
          Satixday, where she admitted to writing to the French embassy about Iran's ruclear power program and its
          post-vote developments.
          “I should not have taken part in illegal protests... I regret (my activities)... I apologize to the Iranian nation and the
          court and hope they will pardon me,” said the 24-year-old Frenchwoman, Clotilde Reiss.
          Meanwhile, Paris urged Iran to free Reiss and Afshar. In an official statement, the French Foreign Ministry said
          that the espionage charges against the two were baseless.
          Iran has accused Britain and other Western governments of plotting the violent riots.
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          Tue Aug 11,2009116:33
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          British Embassystaff rker, Hossein Rassan addressing the
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